Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today is Pavel Belavus's birthday. He has always cared about everything Belarusian and framed the national idea of our country in everything he did. He has devoted his whole life to letting us all know that being a Belarusian is something to be proud of. But for his love for Belarus, he is now behind bars.
Once Pavel said: “Don't be afraid of Belarusian girls in embroidered shirts. It is worse to see Russian men in jackboots and on tanks!” Pavel looked far ahead and was right. Now, when the regime is rewriting the history of our country, banning books by Belarusian writers, and repressing people for speaking their native language, we need to do as much as we can to protect our Belarusian identity.
Pavel Belavus did everything so that we could emphasize our national identity in defiance of pro-Russian politics. So let us continue his work together – speak Belarusian, support content in our native language, and adorn ourselves in clothes that show our national identity. Value ourselves and what is ours.
Today, I would like to wish Pavel to be reunited with his family as soon as possible and continue working for the good of the new Belarus”.
