«Your excellency Mrs. ambassador Anna Sochańska,
Ambassador Marius Gudynas,
Your excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen.
232 years ago the first constitution in Europe was adopted — the Constitution of the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth. It promoted democracy, introducing division of three branches of power. It guaranteed freedom of religion. It enhanced security and independence of the Commonwealth from foreign powers.
The Commonwealth included the major part of the Belarusian territory. Deputies from the Belarusian-Lithuanian szlachta voted for the Constitution. This makes this historical event our common legacy. Together with Poles and Lithuanians, our Belarusian ancestors fought to defend the Constitution in 1792 and during the Kosciuszko uprising in 1794.
Democracy, freedom, constitutional rights — these words still sound like a dream for Belarusians. In 2020, our dream of freedom almost came true. Just to be replaced by the nightmare of dictatorship and hybrid occupation.
Today, the regime in Belarus is fighting our history, our common heroes, and our common heritage. The history books are being rewritten. Putin’s puppet regime is trying to quarrel with our nations, and among other things, they attack Polish and Lithuanian minorities. In February, the leader of the Polish community in Belarus, journalist Andrzej Poczobut was sentenced to 8 years in prison. Many others are jailed on political grounds.
Lukashenka’s regime can be compared to an UNconstitutional monarchy. No personal freedom is guaranteed in Belarus. People are arrested every day without any legal grounds. Just for their opinions, for the fact that they dare to have an opinion.
Belarusian independence is also becoming a distant dream. In 2020, Russia didn’t allow democratic changes to happen in Belarus. Two years later, Russia invaded Ukraine to forbid the country from taking a pro-European course. The Russian empire came back from the dead and wants to renew its past territorial gains. As usual, at our expense.
To ensure its control over Belarus, Russia won’t hesitate to reintroduce nuclear weapons to our country. This is something that the international community must prevent from happening.
Only after Lukashenka’s regime is gone will we restore the rule of law in Belarus, to guarantee its citizens their constitutional rights. Me and my team, we are political optimists.
We are working on the project of a New Constitution of Belarus. I believe that, this time, our new Constitution will last. And we will return to our ancient traditions of democracy and constitutionalism, dating back to the 18th century.
Thank you.»
