25 years ago, on 25 August 1991, the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic acquired the status of the constitutional law. Belsat TV asked the residents of Minsk who or what is the main threat to our country’s independence these days:
“Only Russia is a threat to us. It seems to me that our sovereignty is nothing but fiction. How can we be independent if we take loans from everyone? “
“Well, who attacked the Ukraine? Russia did. Russians said Ukrainians were their brothers, but suddenly made an incursion into their territory them. They may attack us as well. Lukashenka is a puppet. He will not protect Belarus, he will sell it out, he is the first traitor in the country.”
“You know that our country is very small. It is economically dependent upon many states, including Russia. That is why our political sovereignty also depends on Russia.”
“I think that the Belarusians who hardly care about the independence, their own language, their history and their economic independence is the main threat to Belarus.”
“I think we are the main threat. We are not able to sustain our position and uphold our independence. The people’s weak position allows our leaders, our army to behave in such a way that there is no hope for their taking a stand for our independence.”
“The Belarusians’ indifference is the main fact that is threatening the country’s independence. If people have no dignity and do not care about their future, they do not deserve freedom.”
