Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said the country’s national identity has been shaped by the customs, traditions and cultural influences of various peoples, arguing that Belarusians should not be ashamed of their diverse historical roots.
Speaking about the origins of the Belarusian people, Lukashenko pointed to the historic regions of Turov, Polotsk and Polesie, rejecting attempts to reinterpret the country’s historical development, according to the BelTA news agency.
“Where did our Belarusians [the ancestors of Belarusians — ed.] come from? Not just from Israel,” Lukashenko said, adding that their roots extended from Turov to the lands of Polotsk.
He said no political agenda could “turn this history on its head” or alter the origins of the Belarusian people.
Lukashenko also praised the people of Polesie, known as Poleshuks, describing them as shrewd, intelligent, hardworking and talented.
“The Poleshuks are the gold standard,” he said, while stressing that Belarusians as a whole are “strong” and “resilient.”
“Belarusians are a true nation that has absorbed the customs, skills and traditions of people from Israel, the East, Europe and from here – from Kyivan Rus’ and further north [on the map]. There is no need to be shy about this; we must speak the truth as it was,” Lukashenko said.
By Sabina Mammadli
