Lukashenko called the October Revolution the foundation of Belarusian statehood

Congratulations on November 7

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko called the October Revolution of 1917 a fateful event that returned 'millions of people their faith in equality, justice and a dignified life.' The congratulation on the Day of the October Revolution was published on November 7, as reported by Life.ru.

The Revolution as the Foundation of Statehood

According to Lukashenko, the year 1917 holds special significance for Belarus: the right of nations to self-determination proclaimed by the Soviet government created, in his words, the historical prerequisites for the formation of an independent state and its emergence on the international stage. 'On this foundation we built our country and for the first time entered the world stage as a sovereign state,' the address says. The President also emphasized that the ideas of the revolution remain relevant more than a century later, and that modern Belarus follows the principles of social justice, public accord and the unity of the people. He assigned a special role to historical memory: the hardships endured, in his words, 'strengthen the bond between generations' and reinforce harmony in society.

Status of the holiday: the difference from Russia

Belarus remains one of the few post-Soviet countries where November 7 is an official state holiday and a day off. As the outlet itself previously noted in a piece on the history of the date, after the collapse of the USSR this day ceased to be a state holiday in Russia, whereas in Belarus it has been preserved as a day off; the tradition of celebrating it arose in 1918, a year after the revolutionary events in Petrograd. Thus, Lukashenko's statement about the revolution as the foundation of statehood is consistent with the date's continuing official status in the republic — unlike in Russia, where the holiday has lost its state significance.