The Forum of Patriotic Forces "The Time Chose Us. The Time of New Victories," timed to coincide with the Day of National Unity, became a demonstration of the cohesion of the residents of the Vitebsk region.
Congratulating his compatriots on the holiday, Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Alexander Subbotin noted that September 17, 1939, marks a new bright page in the history of the Belarusian people, a time when the foundation of the state in which we live today began to form.
– Only together, united, can we overcome all trials and solve any problem. It has always been this way – from ancient times to the present day, – emphasized the head of the region and cited this year's harvest campaign as an example. In incredibly difficult conditions, the agrarians demonstrated incredible organization and unity. Shoulder to shoulder, they went into the fields, and thanks to selfless labor, coordinated work, with the support of townspeople, military personnel, and grain growers from neighboring regions, they achieved a record result – they threshed over a million tons of grain! When trouble came to our neighbors, as happened with the Mogilev region during the summer hurricane, the Vitebsk region provided assistance without hesitation. – We do not abandon our own in trouble, we support each other, we believe in our own strength and the bright future of our country. We will make the country even more beautiful, cozier, a wonderful place for our children and grandchildren to live, – assured Alexander Subbotin.
The speakers who took the main stage of the regional center spoke about the importance of the reunification of the Belarusian people, the significance of the country's youngest state holiday, which symbolizes the continuity of generations, the immutability and self-sufficiency of the Belarusian nation and statehood.
– I love Belarus and I hope it's mutual! – concluded his emotional speech Gleb Lapitsky, member of the Council of the Republic, General Director of the Vitebsk Culture Center.
Vyacheslav Belous, Chairman of the regional organization of the public association "Veterans of Airborne Troops and Special Operations Forces," urged the youth to cherish their Motherland.
– Do not seek happiness in foreign lands, there you will always be strangers, but here you are masters of the land, here all paths are open to you. Remember: we are united, and therefore – invincible – said Vyacheslav Belous.
Heartfelt words were heard in the speeches of Ilya Kuznetsov, a history teacher at Vitebsk Secondary School No. 12, and Elizaveta Ivanova, a student at Vitebsk State Medical University and the youngest delegate to the VII All-Belarusian People's Assembly. A solemn and touching moment was the performance by Alexander Malashenko, a finalist of the National Festival-Competition of Patriotic Song "Soldier's Envelope-2025," of Rasul Gamzatov's song "Cranes," which the hall listened to while standing.
And also standing, the company of the Guard of Honor of the 103rd Vitebsk Separate Guards Airborne Brigade and the Vitebsk Cadet School was seen off from the stage. They departed to lay a memorial wreath at the Eternal Flame of the memorial complex in honor of the liberator soldiers.
More than once during the concert program, the audience of thousands in the Summer Amphitheater rose to their feet and sang along. Each performance by young talented artists was filled with deep meaning and vivid emotional expression. Vitaly Karpanov, the lead singer of the band "Drozdы," came to congratulate Vitebsk region on the holiday.
In the final, the host, Vladimir Babichev, Deputy of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, invited representatives of all democratic forces of the Vitebsk region to the stage. To the melody of the song "One for All," a huge state flag of the Republic of Belarus was brought out, which seemed to gather all the small flags and large banners in the hands of the forum participants.