Long Live Belarus!

Long Live Belarus! (Belarusian: Жыве Беларусь!, romanized: Žyvie Biełaruś! [ʐɨˈvʲɛ bʲɛlaˈrusʲ]) is a Belarusian patriotic motto widely used by members of the Belarusian democratic and nationalist opposition as well as members of the Belarusian diaspora.

The motto is aimed at awakening the national civil sense, the consolidation of the Belarusian people to protect the freedom and independence of their country, language, and national culture.[1]

History

The motto originated during the rebel movement of 1863-1864.[1]

Belarusian poet Yanka Kupala ended his 1905—1907 poem "This is a Cry That Belarus Lives" with this phrase.[2]

In December 1917, the First All-Belarusian Congress displayed the flag with the inscription "Long Live Free Belarus!".[3]

It is displayed on the logo of a major state-owned newspaper, Narodnaya Gazeta. However, there have been cases of arrests for publicly calling out the motto at demonstrations.[4][5][6]

The phrase has been widely used by opponents of non-legitimate President Alexander Lukashenko, both inside and outside of Belarus, during the 2020 Belarusian protests.[7][8]

See also

References
  1. Аляксей Каўка. Жыве Беларусь! // Энцыклапедыя гісторыі Беларусі. У 6 т. Т. 3: Гімназіі — Кадэнцыя / Беларус. Энцыкл.; Рэдкал.: Г. П. Пашкоў (гал. рэд.) і інш.; Маст. Э. Э. Жакевіч. — Мн.: БелЭн, 1996. С. 377. (in Belarusian)
  2. "Родныя Вобразы / Вершы / Гэта крык, што жыве Беларусь / Купала Я." web.archive.org. March 6, 2014.
  3. "Pawet: Первый Всебелорусский съезд". pawet.net.
  4. Светлана Калинкина (2010-12-22). "Согласно милицейскому протоколу, глухонемой «выкрикивал антигосударственные лозунги "Жыве Беларусь!"»". «Салідарнасць». Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  5. "Племяннику Козулина дали 7 суток за лозунг «Жыве Беларусь!»". «Комсомольская правда». 2006-03-24. Retrieved 2015-07-15.
  6. Татьяна Карюхина, Антон Кашликов (2007-07-16). "Няхай «жыве», если «за»". «БелГазета», №28 (598). Retrieved 2015-07-15.
  7. Melnichuk, Tatsiana (13 August 2020). "Shocked by violence, Belarusians lose their fear" – via www.bbc.com.
  8. "People are seeking change in Belarus. Instead, they're being mercilessly beaten and detained ǀ View". euronews. 13 August 2020.


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