Russians still afraid of losing Belarus – Lukashenka
Belsat.eu
21 March 2018, 18:05
One should know the history of creation of the Belarusian People’s Republic (BNR) but should not take pride in those events, president Alyaksandr Lukashenka said at Tuesday’s meeting with young talented youth Belarusians.
According to him, information we have about the BNR is ‘controversial’.
He criticized the creators of the Belarusian People’s Republic for hesitating over their police line and seeking assistance in the West. At the same time, he tried to justify the Bolsheviks’ actions saying that they were just ‘afraid of losing the territory of Belarus’.
Interestingly, speaking about the proclamation of Belarus’ nationhood, the president admitted that Russia still wanted to control Belarus.
“Russians are our brothers. They are different. They can be good and bad. At times they don’t want to buy our milk or sugar. They may stop selling oil or natural gas. All kinds of things may happen. I’ve felt it in full measure. But we have to bear our share of responsibility, too. We are politicians and should be able to resolve these issues. But it doesn’t mean that they are our enemies. Who will be the first to lend us a helping hand? Russians. It doesn’t matter what will lie at the root of it. They are still afraid of losing Belarus,” state-run news agency BelTA quotes him
The Belarusian leader also called himself the ‘most ardent supporter of the country’s sovereignty and independence’.
On Sunday Belarus will be celebrating the centenary of the proclamation of its nationhood. The Belarusian People’s Republic came into existence at the end of the First World War, when Bolshevik forces left Minsk and the city was occupied by German troops. On March 25, 1918 the Provisional Government (Rada) proclaimed the independence of the BNR. After the Red Army re-entered Minsk, the Communist government replaced the Rada; its members had to emigrate.
21 March 2018, 18:05
According to him, information we have about the BNR is ‘controversial’.
He criticized the creators of the Belarusian People’s Republic for hesitating over their police line and seeking assistance in the West. At the same time, he tried to justify the Bolsheviks’ actions saying that they were just ‘afraid of losing the territory of Belarus’.
Interestingly, speaking about the proclamation of Belarus’ nationhood, the president admitted that Russia still wanted to control Belarus.
“Russians are our brothers. They are different. They can be good and bad. At times they don’t want to buy our milk or sugar. They may stop selling oil or natural gas. All kinds of things may happen. I’ve felt it in full measure. But we have to bear our share of responsibility, too. We are politicians and should be able to resolve these issues. But it doesn’t mean that they are our enemies. Who will be the first to lend us a helping hand? Russians. It doesn’t matter what will lie at the root of it. They are still afraid of losing Belarus,” state-run news agency BelTA quotes him
The Belarusian leader also called himself the ‘most ardent supporter of the country’s sovereignty and independence’.
On Sunday Belarus will be celebrating the centenary of the proclamation of its nationhood. The Belarusian People’s Republic came into existence at the end of the First World War, when Bolshevik forces left Minsk and the city was occupied by German troops. On March 25, 1918 the Provisional Government (Rada) proclaimed the independence of the BNR. After the Red Army re-entered Minsk, the Communist government replaced the Rada; its members had to emigrate.
