Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “September 19, 1991, is one of those dates that defines us as a nation. 34 years ago, what had long lived in the hearts of Belarusians was finally affirmed – we have our country, our name, and our symbols. Pahonia and the white-red-white flag became a sign that Belarus was returning to the family of free nations.
Today, the regime calls these symbols ‘forbidden’. But how can memory be banned? How can you forbid what embodies the very people?
Everyone who passes on the truth about our real history to children does more to preserve Belarus than entire state propaganda machines. And this is a great responsibility. It is a choice to stand on the side of freedom. It is loyalty to our memory. And as long as Belarusians hold on to their symbols and their dignity, the country lives.
I believe that September 19 will be celebrated in the new Belarus, one without banned flags, a country where the people themselves determine their path”.
