Mikalai Statkevich: Everyone is proud of his deeds :: Charter'97 :: News

15 years ago 8 September 1992 on the Day of Belarusian Military Glory in Nezavisimosty Square in Minsk the first oath was given by the army to Belarus. The people participating in that event were pressurized by the authorities but after a short period of time the oath was given to Belarus by all the army forces of the country. “We were warned of probable dismissal from the army. But 12 officers being completely aware of the risk taken put on their parade uniform and came out into the square. In the square there were thousands of people, officers and soldiers, and we all gave the oath together. Among us were sub-colonel Mikalai Birukou, colonel Uladzimir Savenok, colonel Uladzimir Baradach, major Mikhail Varanetsky, colonel Leanid Balvanovich and major Ales Statkevich .There were also the deputies of the parliament and today’s secretary of the security council Viktar Sheiman. The action affected the authorities and the whole army gave their oath to Belarus, participant of those events, leader of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Narodnaya Gramada), first chairman of the Belarusian Association of Army Men, retired sub-colonel Mikalai Statkevich declares in his interview with the Charter’97 press center.

Mikalai Statkevich dwells on the heroic deed of the Belarusian officers and soldiers:

“It was the time of fighting for the Belarusian army. In early 1992 we managed to force the decision making on creation of the Belarusian army. We decided that the oath to Belarus had to be the first step. The struggle continued for several months .We decided to use the most glorious date of our history - the anniversary of the Orsha battle and called the patriots for coming out into the square and giving the oath. Thus the whole country learned about that historic date. Everyone is proud of his deeds.”

It is to be mentioned that 8 September the Day of Military Glory is marked in Belarus commemorating the historical victory of the troops of the Great Lithuanian Duchy over the troops of the Moscow Duchy. One of the 8 September 1514 Orsha battle heroes was Commander Kanstantsin Astrozhsky. It was he who was at the head of the 30 thousand Belarusian Troops.

Photo: In the foreground :colonel Uladzimir Baradach; major Ales Stankevich; colonel Leanid Balvanovich; sub-colonel Mikalai Birukou. In the background leader of the Belarusian People’s Front Zyanon Paznyak and sub-colonel Mikalai Statkevich.

Members of the Belarusian Association of Army Men 10 years after first oath to Belarus (2001)