“Dear Belarusians,
Dear friends,
Dear representatives of Boston city hall,
Today we celebrate the Belarus Freedom Day.
Today, we celebrate the heroism of hundreds of thousands of Belarusians who fearlessly fight for freedom and independence.
We celebrate our right to live in a really democratic society and independent country. This is the right that no one, I repeat no one, can take away from us.
When I see our beautiful white-red-white flag, I am thinking about our protests in 2020. I remember the whole sea of these flags. It became the symbol of our steadfastness.
This flag was prohibited by the Soviets, and then by Lukashenka’s regime. If you display this flag, you can be punished by years of prison. But despite that, people continue to show our flag – in their windows, on their cars, on buildings.
I am sure that when the regime collapses, this flag will become our official national flag. It became not just the national symbol of Belarusians, but the symbol of the global fight for freedom.
Freedom and independence are the greatest values for any nation. And every day we show that we are ready to fight for them. That we have the right to be called a nation.
Yes, there is a still long path ahead of us. But we have strong allies on our side, and we have confidence in what we stand for. Our path is the right one.
I am grateful to the Belarusian community here in Boston for keeping Belarus high on the agenda. You organized almost fifty events, collected 15 thousand dollars in aid. I admire your activism, your dedication, and your love for our country.
The only thing I want to ask you: don’t stop. We must finish the job. We must release all political prisoners. We must win our country back.
We also must help Ukraine to win. Because our fates are intertwined. There will not be free Belarus witout free Ukraine. And vice versa: no safe Ukraine without free Belarus.
Let me also thank Boston City Hall for supporting Belarusians, for today’s ceremony, for your solidarity.
Here in the United States, I feel enormous support for our cause. I had meetings on the Hill, in the State Department. And they told me: Belarus is the topic that unites everyone in the United States, all groups and all parties.
I am happy that Belarus unites. Let it continue to be so!
Happy Belarus Freedom day!
Жыве Беларусь!”
