Belarus Freedom Day: Standing against tyranny and Russian imperialism

Today, on Belarus Freedom Day, the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) proudly stands with the people of Belarus in their unyielding fight for liberty, democracy, and human dignity. The date serves as both a commemoration of the 1918 Belarusian National Republic and a solemn reminder of Belarus’s ongoing battle for independence and fundamental rights.

In this fight, the international community must confront an escalating threat: Russian neo-imperialism. Under the stranglehold of Aleksandr Lukashenko’s brutal regime – a Kremlin puppet – the Belarusian people face relentless oppression. Lukashenko’s dictatorship not only aids Russia’s devastating war in Ukraine but systematically erodes Belarus’s sovereignty, allowing Moscow to tighten its grip on the nation.

Since the fraudulent 2020 presidential election, Belarus has been transformed into a police state reminiscent of Stalinist-era repression. Dissent is crushed, media silenced, and the Lukashenko regime advances Russia’s imperial ambitions. Western democracies – including the United States, Canada, and European Union nations – have responded with sanctions and refused to recognize Lukashenko’s legitimacy.

Despite these dire circumstances, Belarus’s democratic movement persists. Civil society continues to resist authoritarianism, while Belarusian volunteers, including the heroic Kastus Kalinouski Regiment, take up arms to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty. Their bravery exemplifies the shared struggle for freedom that unites the peoples of Ukraine and Belarus.

The world must hold the Lukashenko regime – and its Kremlin masters – accountable for their crimes. A free Belarus is not only key to Ukraine’s security but essential to the stability and prosperity of Europe. Belarus’s rightful place is among the family of democratic European nations, standing shoulder to shoulder with countries that value liberty, equality, and justice.