On the occasion of the 102nd anniversary of the proclamation of independence of the Belarusian People’s Republic (BNR), the public campaigns Budzma and Hodna have presented the video and the song ‘March, 25’.
The prominent Belarusian musician Zmitser Vaitsyushkevich, the author of the music, said that he asked poet and politician Uladzimir Nyaklyayeu to write a poem dedicated to Belarus’ unofficial Freedom Day. The musical video was made by the artistic union Inaksh.
Freedom Day (Dzień Voli) is an unofficial holiday in Belarus, which is celebrated on March 25 to commemorate the creation on that date in 1918 of the Belarusian People’s Republic (BNR). It came into existence at the end of the First World War, when Bolshevik forces left Minsk and the city was occupied by German troops. On March 25, 1918 the Provisional Government (Rada) proclaimed the independence of the BNR. After the Red Army re-entered Minsk, the Communist government replaced the Rada; its members had to emigrate. The Lukashenka regime denies Freedom Day and often prevents the opposition forces from celebrating it.
This year, the festive events in the Belarusian cities and towns have been postponed or gone online due to the outbreak of COVID-2019.
