They bequeathed us free Belarus

The outgoing year is a year of those who have left us.

I don't mean those mistakenly called the government, though their dismissal became a hot topic ahead of the New Year's Eve. These government officials have gone and disappeared in the history of Belarus. New outgoing officials have been appointed.

I mean our losses. The people whose absence makes our life more difficult. We had a lot of losses this year.

I mean those whom I humbly respected as my friends and admired.

They had different fates and underwent different ordeals. They are different, but they are equal in their love for Belarus and the love of Belarusians for them.

Uncle Ryhor, whom everyone admires and respects deeply. He gently broke the frames of poetry long time ago and stepped out to where his voice can be heard better, where he can say a word for beloved Belarus to the Supreme Judge. Living with us on a small piece of land called Belarus, he became a patron of this best place on earth. He knew everything about us and knew everything about himself.

Until I breathe

I pray for Belarus

And with this prayer

To ancestors will go

Henadz Mikalayevich, soft and wise, a poignant lyric poet and an adamant citizen. He hurried to do something sometimes, but he never hurried in talks with people. He is a person you want to be friends with and share joy and sorrow. He listened and empathized. He continues to emphathize with us even today.

O Lord,

Protect my Belarus

from treachery, betrayal and the war

Mikhail Afanasyevich, an example of morality and professionalism. He was a credulous and open person, but had firm principles. He involuntary opened the door to power for the current mistake by refusing to head a parliamentary commission. Mikhail Afanasyevich was unable to deal with someone's dirty linen even on the excuse of fighting corruption. His love for Belarus was his service. His charisma helped the world to see the Belarus we want to live in, free and European Belarus.

They passed away. It is painful, very painful. But they are still with us, and it imposes certain obligations on us.

They gave us a lesson of freedom. They didn't dream about freedom, they just were free. They understood once and for all that freedom is a refusal to accept violence against Belarus and themselves. Their truth was that they were creating Belarus we will live in.

They tried to avoid conflicts, but it was they who clearly marked the line of non-recognition of the current authorities and the impossibility to reach a compromise with them.

It's hard to imagine them on the barricades, but Maidan and Square are impossible without them.

Ryhor Baradulin, Henadz Buraukin and Mikhail Marynich gave us a lesson of quiet strength and confidence in ourselves and future of free Belarus.

We just should be a bit more decisive, more consistent and more persistent in our struggle for freedom. In this case the coming year will be a year of Freedom.

Andrei Sannikov, specially for charter97.org