Belarus’s Day of National Unity: reinforcing regime narratives and alienating minorities

A girl in a Belarusian military uniform in Minsk on September 17th 2023, during the Day of National Unity. Photo: fortton / Shutterstock

According to Belarusian officials, the events of September 17th 1939 corrected the injustice imposed upon the Belarusian people when they were divided against their will by the 1921 Treaty of Riga. This interpretation frames the Soviet entry as a reunification of Belarusian lands, conveniently overlooking the broader context of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and the subsequent repressions in the newly acquired territories.

In his 2024 address to the nation, Alyaksandr Lukashenka appealed to the nation’s development. He portrayed the events of 85 years ago as a reunification driven by the Belarusian people’s desire for a brighter future. Lukashenka emphasized the hard work, military achievements and natural talents of the Belarusian people as the key factors in building a strong nation. He argued that these efforts had earned them a place among other nations as a courageous and progressive force.

This rhetoric promotes a simplistic view of the 1939 events, framing them as a positive reunification. However, this interpretation overlooks the nuanced reality of this period, which involves hardships and tragedies affecting individuals, families and communities. This selective focus reinforces the regime’s preferred historical narrative while simultaneously silencing any dissenting voices. Overall, it prevents a more comprehensive dialogue about Belarus and the region’s past.

Anti-Polish rhetoric and minority alienation

The establishment of this holiday serves multiple purposes for Lukashenka’s regime, chief among them being the reinforcement of anti-Polish sentiment. By celebrating the Soviet invasion of Poland, the regime implicitly portrays Poland as a historical oppressor of Belarusians. This narrative taps into long-standing historical grievances and serves to create an external “other” against which Belarusian national identity can be defined. This tactic indeed fosters a sense of shared history and national unity against an external threat. However, the official narrative ignores the deep historical and cultural ties between Belarus and Poland. Figures like Tadeusz Kościuszko, Adam Mickiewicz, Stanisław Moniuszko, or Czesław Niemen represent this shared heritage. By promoting this divisive interpretation, the regime actively undermines these cross-border connections, ultimately severing cultural ties and hindering any possibility of genuine mutual understanding.

The 2024 commemorations featured a diverse range of “patriotic” and cultural events across Belarus, including historical quizzes, exhibitions, athletic competitions and educational initiatives intended to strengthen the official narrative of Belarusian history. A particular emphasis was placed on youth engagement, with schools and universities arranging specialized activities to immerse younger generations in the state-sanctioned interpretation of historical events. This approach, however, is centred on a vision of history as designed by Lukashenka’s ideologues. This, in turn, eliminates Belarus’s Polish minority from the official narrative, leaving them no space to see their own heritage and historical experiences reflected in these celebrations.

Flawed logic and the long-term impact on Belarus-Poland relations

The Day of National Unity, a holiday established by the Belarusian government, continues to generate controversy and highlight the regime’s manipulation of history for current political gain. While officially presented as a celebration of national reunification, the holiday’s foundation rests on a flawed and incomplete narrative that ignores the suffering inflicted upon Belarusians and other ethnic groups following the Soviet takeover of western Belarus in 1939.

The regime’s justification for the holiday is full of logical inconsistencies. It fails to acknowledge the mass repressions and denationalization policies implemented under Soviet rule. This contrasts with the image of harmonious unity projected by the official narrative. Furthermore, the very notion of “unity” rings hollow in the face of the holiday’s divisive nature. Instead of fostering social cohesion, the celebration has exacerbated historical tensions between different ethnic and political groups within Belarus. This contradiction exposes the regime’s prioritization of political expediency over genuine national reconciliation.

The Day of National Unity has also further strained relations between Belarus and Poland. The Polish government and civil society groups consistently criticize the holiday, viewing it as a distortion of historical truth and a glorification of Soviet aggression. The prominence given to this celebration serves as a point of contention, with Polish officials interpreting it as a deliberate provocation. In turn, Lukashenka’s regime has ramped up its efforts to solidify the holiday’s place in the national consciousness. In 2024, new digital initiatives were launched, including an interactive online platform and social media campaigns designed to promote the official narrative surrounding the 1939 “reunification”.

Despite these efforts, the holiday’s acceptance among the Belarusian population remains questionable. The controversial nature of the events it commemorates, particularly for those whose family histories challenge the official narrative, continues to fuel debate and dissent.

The regime’s approach to history

The interpretation of historical events around September 17th 1939 remains a highly sensitive and contentious issue in Belarus, as the country navigates its complex geopolitical landscape and grapples with questions of national identity. The Day of National Unity exemplifies the Lukashenka regime’s approach to history and nation-building, which is characterized by manipulations, selective memory and a suppression of dissenting voices.

Hence, this holiday serves as a perfect and evident reminder of the ongoing struggle over historical memory in Belarus and the broader region. It also highlights the crucial and contentious nature of interpreting the past as Belarus navigates its relationships with neighbouring countries and defines its national identity.

Hanna Vasilevich holds a Doctoral Degree in International Relations and European Studies. Her research interests include state ideology and propaganda, identity issues, inter-ethnic relations, linguistic diversity as well as diaspora and kin-state relations.

“We suport the Belarusian Awakening’24” is a project co-financed by Solidarity Fund PL within the framework of Polish development cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland in the amount of PLN 230,000.

This publication expresses the views of the author only and cannot be identified with the official position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland.

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Alyaksandr Lukashenka, belarus, Belarusian history, memory politics, Polish minority, Polish-Belarusian relations, Post-soviet memory