Press releases

MINSK, 14 August (BelTA) – The presentation of the Belarusian Statehood concept took place at the press center of the Belarusian Telegraph Agency BelTA on 14 August, BelTA informs.

The concept was in the focus of attention at the first panel discussion of the project Belarus Rus about Belarus. Belarusian Statehood: History and Present Day. According to Director of the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Vyacheslav Danilovich, the concept will consist of five volumes. The concept shows the potential of statehood which was formed throughout the historical development path of the Belarusian people and its reflection in historical and national forms. “An integral concept of the history of Belarusian statehood will be presented,” the scientist said.

In his words, statehood is seen as an internal potential of the Belarusian people. The scientists singled out historical (Principality of Polotsk, Principality of Turov, Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Rzeczpospolita and others) and national forms of statehood. National forms mean such state entities as the Belarusian People’s Republic, which did not become a real state, but was the first attempt of its creation, the Soviet Socialist Republic of Belarus, the Lithuanian–Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic or Litbel, BSSR and, finally, the Republic of Belarus.

Vyacheslav Danilovich said that the work on the concept has been conducted over the past 13 years. The materials have already been represented in scientific circles and at international forums, where it received support from Belarusian and foreign historians.

The project Belaya Rus about Belarus. Belarusian Statehood: History and Present Day is implemented jointly with the public organization Belaya Rus, the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the History Department of the Belarusian State University with the information support from BelTA. The organizers will unite the efforts of scientists, educators, journalists, and artists in an attempt to preserve the national memory, form the historical self-consciousness of Belarusians on the basis of objective study, coverage and popularization of the national history. One of the most important tasks of the project is to use the open discussion, active scientific and education activities to resist unprofessionalism and attempts to falsify historical facts, the spread of politically engaged history.

The series of panel discussions this year will feature lawmakers, young scientists, historians, and teachers. The events will be widely covered by the national mass media and the Belaruskaya Dumka magazine.

As soon as the project is implemented, a collection of materials will be published with theses of the reports.