Politicians view national salute ban as catering to Russia

November 10, BPN. Belarus’ former culture chief and Lithuania’s former top diplomat have criticized Minsk’s decision to ban the popular patriotic slogan “Long Live Belarus!” as Nazi.

“What’s next? A ban on the name ‘Belarus’? All of this is a way towards the ‘Russian world,’” former Belarusian Culture Minister Pavieł Łatuška, a member of the opposition’s cabinet, said in a YouTube address.

He said the slogan had been coined by Janka Kupała, who is regarded as one of the greatest Belarusian poets, back in 1905, i.e. before the Nazis even existed.

“If ‘long live Belarus’ is a Nazi slogan for former President [Alaksandr Łukašenka], it only proves that his aspirations are quite the opposite – to give what is left of the country’s sovereignty and independence to his master in Kremlin,” former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius tweeted.

The interior ministry blacklisted the greeting “Long Live Belarus!” and the response “Long Live!” (Bel.: Žyvie Biełaruś!/Žyvie!) on November 10.

The greeting’s popularity stretches beyond the democratic opposition’s circles, and it had been occasionally used in official circumstances up until 2020.

Official propaganda has portrayed opposition supporters as Nazi collaborators after 2020 protests against vote rigging and Alaksandr Łukašenka’s disputed reelection.