MINSK, 1 July (BelTA) – The Great Patriotic War ordeals helped to crystallize the Belarusian statehood, Aleksei Belyaev, the assistant professor of the political science chair at Belarusian State Economic University, said during a discussion “Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus: Victory Narrative” as part of the Expert Community joint project of BelTA and the Belarusian Institute of Strategic Research on 1 July.
The expert suggested that if the revolution of 1917 had not happened the country, we know today, might not have existed. The concept of Belarus as a state emerged after the revolutionary events of 1917. “But before World War II, the Great Patriotic War, this narrative of an independent state was not yet finalized. It did not crystallize yet," Aleksei Belyaev said.
The Great Patriotic War consolidated the Belarusian nation, led to its formation as a political entity. The country had a national political elite from the leaders of the former partisan movement. Another important point, according to Aleksei Belyaev, was the final territorial formation. “Western Belarus and the BSSR reunified in 1939. But the final formation and consolidation of the borders in legal documents and in the minds of not only the Belarusian people but also of people in the neighboring nations occurred just after the Second World War, the Great Patriotic War,” the scholar noted.
The BSSR, among other states, became one of the founders of the United Nations in 1945. “Belarus, as a member of the UN, has been recognized by the international community. Belarus, which was created after the war, became a full participant in all international relations in 1991 when it gained independence,” the expert added. Aleksei Belyaev explained why, from his point of view, the date of 27 July did not take root as Independence Day. On this day in 1990, the Supreme Council adopted the Declaration on State Sovereignty of the BSSR. “In my opinion, the date is quite sad. A large part of the population associates it with the collapse of the Soviet Union, with the loss of the state in which they grew up. It is perceived as a tragic date rather than a joyful one. For us the collapse of the Soviet Union is still a deep geopolitical tragedy, which has brought a lot of sad consequences,” the expert said.
“It was a very difficult process. No normal person would dear to say how wonderful the life was in the 1990s. It was a period of very tough struggle - for the creation, formation of a new state, for survival for the majority of our citizens,” Aleksei Belyaev recalled. “I do not think the day of 27 July is really a festive date, which could become a symbol of the state, uniting the whole nation and bringing joyful associations.”
He is convinced that 3 July has become a true holiday for Belarusians. This is the day when the Belarusian capital was liberated from the Nazi invaders. Minsk has always been a symbol of Belarus, its political center. “3 July is a big date for us, on which we can rely and which, I want to emphasize, everybody accepts. Who will be against the liberation of their capital from the enemy, from the man-hateful regime, the ordeals and hardships?” he said.
