MINSK, 21 February (BelTA) – First Deputy Chairman of the International Affairs Commission of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly Oleg Gaidukevich told journalists about the position of Belarusian MPs regarding the far-right march in Poland's Hajnowka, BelTA has learned.

The fifth march to commemorate the “cursed soldiers” will take place in Hajnowka on 23 February. “On behalf of the Belarusian parliament I would like to express deep resentment and indignation over the plans to stage another far-right march in Hajnowka. It is all the more disappointing that it will take place in the year when we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War,” Oleg Gaidukevich said. “I would also like to thank those Polish citizens, politicians, and public figures who opposed this idea,” he added.

“We find allowing such marches, especially in the country that itself suffered from fascism and Nazism, appalling. We cannot remain silent, especially because in recent years we have strengthened relations with our Polish colleagues, in particular, with the Polish Sejm. Our dialogue in various areas, such as economy and politics has intensified,” Oleg Gaidukevich noted. “Belarus will always honor the memory of the Great Patriotic War. Collaborators, fascists, and Nazis will never be hailed as heroes in our country. We have never attempted to rewrite history and will never do so,” he added.

Oleg Gaidukevich stressed that he voiced the opinion of the majority of the Belarusian MPs. “We feel resentful and ask our Polish colleagues to listen to us at last. Romuald Rajs was a person who killed women, children, and old people. This is no secret,” the MP said. “Ethnic Belarusians live in Poland and we will protect their interests. The task of any state is to protect its citizens wherever they live. All countries of the world, including Poland, do so. By the way, we always listen to our Polish colleagues when they make requests in this regard,” he pointed out.

Poland has marked Cursed Soldiers National Remembrance Day on 1 March since 2011. According to the official version, the “cursed soldiers” continued the fight for Poland's independence after the end of World War II. However, a lot of representatives of the Polish underground movement, for example, Captain Romuald Rajs (aka “Bury”) and his unit murdered, robbed, and abused civilians after the war. In 1946, bandit groups led by “Bury” raided the Podlasie region, burning five villages and killing 79 local residents.

Starting from 2016, the commemorating march in honor of the “cursed soldiers” has been annually held in the city of Hajnowka that has a large community of ethnic Belarusians.