MINSK, 25 May (BelTA) – Flying the flag that is considered unacceptable in Belarus is a pro-fascist act, Deputy Chairman of the Belaya Rus public association Aleksandr Shatko told the SB. Belarus Segodnya newspaper as he commented on the replacement of Belarus' state flag with the white-red-white flag in Riga, BelTA has learned.
Belarus should decisively respond to such actions, he believes. “We can understand some diplomatic moves, trade restrictions, pressure, but what happened in Riga is intolerable. This flag is an official state symbol enshrined in the Constitution. Raising the flag that is considered unacceptable in Belarus is, in my opinion, a pro-fascist act,” Aleksandr Shatko said.
This incident is not just a violation of international norms, but an insult to the Belarusian nation, noted Oleg Gaidukevich, Deputy Chairman of the Standing Commission on International Affairs of the House of Representatives of Belarus, Chairman of Belarus' Liberal Democratic Party. “Several days ago, two pilots, two heroes sacrificed their lives under this flag to save other people's lives, steering an uncontrollable aircraft away from residential buildings. So many heroic deeds have been performed under this flag during these years! This is the state flag of our country! All Belarusians are outraged. This is a slap in the face of the country. Such things should not be forgiven – and they will not be,” he noted.
These days the Latvian capital of Riga is hosting the IIHF World Championships and has the flags of the participating countries raised in the city center. On 24 May, Mayor of Riga Martins Stakis and Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics replaced the Belarusian state flag with the white-red-white flag.
