Cichanoŭskaja backs Zelenskyy, Ukrainians on Independence Day

August 24, BPN. On the occasion of Ukraine’s Independence Day, celebrated on August 24, Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja “on behalf of the Belarusians and the Joint Transition Cabinet of Belarus” addressed “dear President Zelenskyy,” “dear Ukrainian men and women.”

“This day resonates in the hearts and souls of all freedom-loving Belarusians. Today, you sacrifice to defend both your own freedom and Europe’s independence. Our country, Belarus, is now enslaved, and Russian aggressors cowardly attack peaceful Ukrainian cities and villages from the Belarusian soil. But the Belarusian people, who chose freedom in 2020, will not be oppressed forever. This is confirmed by Belarusian soldiers in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and by our brave partisans who stopped Russian trains moving towards Ukraine,” Cichanoŭskaja wrote.

She noted that the holiday marks six months of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. “The anti-Ukrainian goals stated by the Kremlin, the ruthlessness, disrespect for human life and all things Ukrainian make this struggle of Ukraine a struggle for justice, dignity, and home,” the democratic leader stressed.

“The threat to the independence of Belarus and Ukraine is really serious,” Cichanoŭskaja noted. “Trading Belarusian sovereignty in order to stay in power, the illegal regime shamefully dragged our country into this war, broke promises to the Ukrainian people and betrayed the Belarusian statehood.”

“We already know that for aggressor Putin, Belarus and Ukraine should not exist as states at all,” Cichanoŭskaja said, in a clear reference to recent remarks by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“And this joins our fight and yours. After all, there will be no free Belarus without free Ukraine, but there can be no sustainable security for Ukraine and the whole of Europe without a Belarus free from tyranny,” the democratic leader said.

In her opinion, Belarus and Ukraine should overcome this dangerous stage together, stop the dictators and begin to establish new interstate relations based on universal human values, the European outlook and the interests of common and regional security.

“On this path, democratic Belarus stands on the side of Ukraine, and Belarusians themselves help Ukrainians defend their freedom every day. We believe in the victory of Ukraine and will continue to support the Ukrainian people in building a future of its own choice. And I believe that the Belarusians and the Ukrainians will definitely be the best neighbors in the free European space,” Cichanoŭskaja emphasized.