{"id":105827,"date":"2024-09-20T13:13:21","date_gmt":"2024-09-20T10:13:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/105827\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T13:35:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T13:35:32","slug":"authorities-use-national-unity-day-to-fabricate-mass-adoration-for-lukasenka","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/105827\/","title":{"rendered":"Authorities use National Unity Day to fabricate mass adoration for \u0141uka\u0161enka"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Belarusian authorities decorated cities with red and green flags and billboards for National Unity Day, September 17, as the officialdom imposes the new holiday on the public.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n (BelTA)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Divisions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The government staged 17 Facets of Unity rallies across the country with speakers and state media journalists praising Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka as leader who unites the nation and guarantees its peaceful development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka, while handing out awards to mark the occasion, said, \u201cI will be happy to meet you, God willing, once again, and may be more than once, in this hall to present new state awards to you,\u201d apparently hinting at his intention to stay in office for another five-year term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another claim, copied from Soviet propaganda guides and promoted on National Unity Day, is that various ethnic groups live together peacefully in Belarus. This is also \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s pitch to voters in the run-up to the 2025 presidential election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarus is mostly a mono-ethnic country that has a long history of interethnic tolerance. This is not something that authorities have achieved under \u0141uka\u0161enka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Society is divided along political and value-related lines, and this was particularly pronounced in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The official talk of \u201cunity\u201d only exacerbates the divisions because it is usually mixed with statements inciting hatred toward opponents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dissenters have been either kicked out of the country, imprisoned, or silenced. Part of the population stays out of politics, preferring to live in the present and avoid any contact with the regime after the brutal postelection crackdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka struggling for legitimacy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka is aware of deep public discontent, so he continues to repress and stoke up fear, while trying to improve the public perception of his legitimacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the eve of the holiday, he pardoned 37 political prisoners \u2013 the fourth batch released since July. It was not so much an act of humanism as it was an attempt to polish his image before the 2025 poll and maybe improve relations with the West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka reacted with great irritation to exiled opponent\u2019s claim that he had taken those decisions under pressure. In fact, there were several factors at play, including his relationship with Russia and China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka is unhappy with his growing dependence on the Kremlin, even though the economy is booming, benefiting from Moscow\u2019s support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

China is concerned about its fast transit route to Europe affected by \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s rancid relations with his neighbors, especially Poland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anti-Polish rhetoric<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Choosing September 17, the day the USSR invaded Poland in 1939, as National Unity Day is an insult to Poles. On the eve of the holiday, Belarusian MPs unleashed bouts of anti-Polish rhetoric on state television.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, at a meeting with leaders of national minorities, \u0141uka\u0161enka said he was ready to improve relations with Warsaw and hinted that he might be willing to make a deal for the release of journalist Andrzej Poczobut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is hard to say whether \u0141uka\u0161enka will ever succeed in repairing ties with the West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsk is hoping that the EU and the United States, seeing the limited impact of exiled opposition, will take a more pragmatic approach and agree to move on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the West has its doubts about \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s political independence, seeing him as the Kremlin\u2019s puppet. The two camps are still far apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nevertheless, it is a good time to take advantage of the moment to have as many political prisoners freed as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uniting Belarus daunting task for incoming government<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The holiday, introduced three years ago, seems to be imposed on the public by the officialdom. What is needed is a national dialogue to depolarize society, but it is very unlikely under the current regime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government only creates an illusion of unity by repressing dissent, and there are still no preconditions for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if the government changes, depolarization would not be easy. Those who have suffered at the hands of the previous regime might seek revenge, and transition would depend on the new government\u2019s ability to navigate these challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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