Vinstuk Vyachorka: “The House of Romanov must repent for 145 years of colonial oppression”

The deputy leader of the Belarusian Popular Front party Vintsuk Vyachorka comments on the visit of a claimant to the Headship of the Imperial Family of Russia, Duchess Maria Romanova to Homel.

Maria Romanova is to visit Homel region on July 16-18.

Commenting on this visit at he website of his party pbnf.org, the deputy head of the Belarusian Popular Front party Vintsuk Vyachorka emphasized:

“Romanovs are occupants of our Motherland. They are murderous personalities. Romanov’s hands are covered with blood of Tadeush Kastsiushka (Tadeusz Kościuszko), Kastus Kalinouski and Zygmunt Sierakowski; lives of Bahrym and Bahushevich, as well as lives millions of Belarusian peasants, noblemen, bourgeois, priests, dukes were destroyed by them… Military service obligation (recruit obligation which lasted for 25 years or for life) and serfdom never seen before in our land. Forcible disruption of economical ties with Europe and stopped development of free market. Crackdown on all denominations and religions except the “state” one. The name of our nation and use of our language were banned, it was prohibited to print in Belarusian, – that’s what the Russian Empire meant for Belarusians, for whom occupants have failed to amputate memory”.

As said by Vintsuk Vyachorka, according to the House of Romanov, she is a pretender to the Russian throne.

“That’s why only after a public repentance to the Belarusian people for aggressive invasive wars, for 145 years of colonial oppression, for ethnocide and persecution of the Belarusian language they could be allowed to cross the border of the independent Belarus,” the politician stated.

The attitude of the Belarusian authorities to the visit of Maria Romanova has caused dissatisfaction of Belarusian historians too.

Historian Anatol Hrytskevich, Doctor of Science, has described the period of Romanovs’ rule to Radio Svaboda:

“It was the period when Belarus was made a part of the Russian Empire. It means that in 1772-1795, three partitions took place, when neighbours – Russia, Prussia and Austria – divided the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania). First eastern, then central and eastern parts of Belarus were annexed. Then Belarusians became subjects of the Romanovs dynasty. Though some historians say the family of Romanov comes from Belarus, Litva, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. <…> As far as Belarus is concerned, the role of the house of Romanov as leaders of the state was in fact a role of colonizers. And when Maria Vladimirovna, Grand Duchess of Russia, comes to Homel, it simply means a visit to one’s former territory, from the point of view of the empire”.

One thing that amazes me is the Belarusian authorities. As if Belarus is not an independent state. And the way they welcome the Grand Duchess is simply inappropriate”.