Cichanoŭskaja: real Independence Day yet to come

July 3, BPN. A Belarusian opposition leader has said on Twitter that the real Independence Day is yet to be established because Belarus is facing tyranny and Russian imperialism.

Belarusians celebrated Independence Day on July 27 to honor the signing of an independence declaration in 1990, before Alaksandr Łukašenka shifted the key state holiday to July 3 through a controversial referendum.

“We are still fighting for freedom – now under the triple threat of Łukašenka, Putin and Prigozhin. We are fighting for the day when Belarus will have a new Independence Day to celebrate,” Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja said.

A long-standing feud between Russian warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin and Russia’s military brass resulted in his mercenaries taking over a military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don and marching on Moscow last month.

Official reports suggest that Łukašenka brokered a deal allowing the Wagner Group owner to go into exile in Belarus because he eventually called off the uprising. The Kremlin said he will not be prosecuted.

The Belarusian strongman confirmed his arrival in the country on June 27.

Jarosław Kaczyński, deputy prime minister of neighboring Poland, said Wagner Group might have 8,000 troops in Belarus.