WUB Hub News

Today many Belarusians celebrate Freedom Day, in recognition of the declaration of independence by the Belarusian People's Republic (BNR) on 25 March 1918. Despite the BNR's formal territorial existence being very short lived, the Rada (Council) formed that year has continued to exist as a government-in-exile ever since.

Freedom Day has long been a traditional day for street marches and events, and this year is no different. Many Belarusians and others will be thinking of their friends and family imprisoned in Belarus for their political beliefs, as well as the democratic future they aspire to for their country. As of 25 March 2025, according to Vyasna Human Rights Centre, there are 1,201 political prisoners in Belarus.

WUB Hub is sharing some public announcements made by key public figures on Freedom Day.

Ivonka Survilla, the chairperson of the exiled Rada of the BNR, called on the Belarusian diaspora 'to use every opportunity to draw the attention of politicians and citizens in the countries that gave you asylum [to the fact that] not one but two countries in the centre of Europe are fighting against Moscow's imperialism, and that no one helped Belarus when it tried to free itself in 2020.' She told Belarusians: 'On 25 March, once more show the world that you have the right to be a free people in your own free land.' Read her full statement here (in Belarusian).

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya shared a message on Telegram and YouTube. 'Changes do not come by themselves,' she said, 'They demand time, effort and stoicism... For 30 years the regime has been doing all it can to break our will.... But you cannot ban a person for striving for freedom.' You can watch here address here (in Belarusian).