“We are here, representatives of nations fighting for the throwing off of Russian shackles, tsarist oppression, return of a free state – our common republic,” President Duda said at the celebration of the 160th anniversary of the outbreak of the January uprising. The ceremony was attended by the President of Lithuania, the Ambassador of Ukraine and the Leader of the Belarusian Opposition.
READ ALSO: President Nauseda: “Throughout history, the peoples of Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine and Belarus have longed for freedom, and today they are defending it”
The president spoke in front of the Death Wall at the Warsaw Citadel. Andrzej Duda said that the January Uprising was the largest and longest lasting uprising against the invaders for the restoration of a free, sovereign and independent Republic of Poland.
160 years ago, last night, January 22/23, 1863, the January Rebellion broke out. The largest and longest uprising against the invaders for the restoration of a free and sovereign independent Republic of Poland. We are in a special place, on the slopes of the Warsaw Citadel. It was built by order of the Tsar after the fall of the November Uprising, after the fall of the uprising. Exalted to the terror of the Poles. Here, on the slopes of this citadel, the leader of the January Uprising, Romuald Traugutt, and representatives of the insurgent government were murdered. Many insurgents were killed here
said the chairman.
READ ALSO: The presidents of Poland and Lithuania met in Warsaw. Talks about support for Ukraine and celebration of the 160th anniversary of the January uprising
It is a traumatic place, a symbol of suffering and at the same time the steadfastness of the Poles. The revolt lasted more than 2 years. More than 200,000 people took part in it and took an active part in the battle. 20,000 insurgents were killed. Hundreds of thousands suffered the fate of Siberia, the fate of wanderers, were deprived of property, a chance for a decent life, to get an education, persecuted, crushed. Poland lost 123 years of partitions, especially hard after this uprising. How many Polish, Lithuanian, Belarusian and Ukrainian families still remember the lost property, land taken by tsarism 150,160 years ago. Looted for participation in the uprising. I want to thank you with all my heart for being you. Mr. President of the Republic of Lithuania, with his wife. Thank you for coming. I thank the ambassador for being here, for representing the authorities and society of Ukraine. I would like to thank the representatives of free, independent Belarus, led by Mrs Svetlana Cichanouska. We are here, representatives of nations fighting to throw off Russian shackles, tsarist oppression, return of a free state – our common republic. (…) many leading historians say that those slogans that accompanied the uprising and the great ideas that arose then – “for our and your freedom”, “freedom, equality, independence”, “gloria victis” – greatness, a sense of of durability and indestructibility of nation and belief that one day the state will be reborn
– we heard in the president’s speech.
We have not given up the will to have our own state, independence
– added Andrzej Duda.
The president recalled the departure from Oleandry of the 1st Cadre Company of the Legions.
Many doubted what we can clearly read in literature today, for example in the pages of Wyspiański’s “The Wedding”, that Poland can be reborn, that Poles can regain their own state, that the invaders can be defeated. The sense of freedom, the need for independence, sovereignty and self-determination won. Just as patriotism and national thinking won
– said Andrzej Duda.
During the ceremony at the Warsaw Citadel, the president referred to Ukraine, which is currently fighting for its freedom.
Today we also receive our neighbors, brothers from Ukraine, who are currently fighting. Again with the Russian attack. How dramatically this story draws circles and how strongly the will to defend our freedom is ingrained in our nations
– said the President of the Republic of Poland.
I believe that Ukraine will defeat its attacker. That Ukraine will overcome the Russian onslaught, that it will not only stop it, but also repel it. Thanks in part to our support and our allies. I believe that the Ukrainian people will win
he said.
We are. Despite attacks, death, despite attacks, persecution, denationalization, taking away the language, attempts to take away our customs, culture and beliefs. But we are. We survived everything and we will survive, there is no doubt about that. We have experience with this
he said.
Long live the free nations, sovereign, independent, sovereign, free states that used to be a common, fraternal republic. May the Lord God bless our nations, may he protect our homelands. Long live Poland, long live and win Ukraine, long live and win free, independent, sovereign Belarus
– said President Andrzej Duda.
Words from President Nauseda
The January insurgents opposed the Russian Empire, the uprising showed the vitality of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth society, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said at Monday’s ceremony at the Warsaw Citadel. He added that the ideas of freedom from 160 years ago continue today through aid to Ukraine.
The President of Lithuania described Warsaw, the seat of the national government during the January Uprising, as an invincible city.
In this city, the eternal desire for freedom was realized
– added.
He emphasized that the January Uprising “destroyed the efforts of the Tsarist regime, which aimed at the final subjugation of the Polish, Lithuanian, Belarusian and Ukrainian nations, and again demonstrated the vitality of the society of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth “.
President Nauseda compared the struggle of the nations of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with the current defense of Ukraine against Russian imperialism. He judged that the aid to the struggling Ukraine is a continuation of the ideas of 160 years ago, which united the nations of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. He added that Russia’s policy towards neighboring countries stems from the country’s imperial traditions.
Last year we witnessed the frenzy of Russian torturers in Ukraine. We are still witnessing not only the destruction of houses, the abduction of children, but also the burial of the bodies of martyrs. The unmarked mass grave remains a gruesome symbol of Russian politics, genocidal practices and rhetoric. We can also see attempts to rewrite history and spiritually and physically destroy nations that strive for freedom
said the president of Lithuania.
He recalled that Russia’s neighbors “still live on the edge of such a grave, which is why we cannot afford to ignore freedom and must protect it, even with sacrifices.” He said the aid to Ukraine by the other nations of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth contributes to “continuing the unbroken tradition of freedom”.
Nauseda stressed that on the anniversary of the outbreak of the January uprising, it should be remembered that the insurgents “chose the ideas of freedom and democracy and were ready to sacrifice their lives for it”. As an example of such an attitude, he recalled the hero of the uprising in Belarus and Lithuania, Konstanty Kalinowski, who called from a Russian prison to continue the struggle.
The response of the tsarist regime was not only repression, but also erasing the memory of the heroes
– added.
He recalled that Russia’s plans were thwarted only in 2019, when the leaders of the uprising in Lithuania were solemnly buried in Vilnius, who had been buried in an anonymous grave for almost 160 years.
Letter from President Zelensky
160 years ago, our nations joined forces and stood side by side against Russian imperialism. The January uprising accelerated the national revival and liberation movement in the areas of modern Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed on Monday.
On Monday, with the participation of the Presidents of Poland and Lithuania – Andrzej Duda and Gitanas Nauseda, ceremonies marking the 160th anniversary of the January Uprising will be held at the Citadel in Warsaw.
During the ceremony, Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Zvarycz, read a letter from the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.
160 years ago, our nations joined forces and stood side by side against Russian imperialism. The January Uprising accelerated the national revival and liberation movement in the areas of modern Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania
– Zelensky emphasized in the letter.
As he noted, “the events of the time tempered the love of liberty and the steadfastness of the spirit of our nations.”
Today, in homage to the January rebels, we feel unity and a special historical bond with our ancestors, who then valiantly defended freedom and independence.
– emphasized the President of Ukraine.
He added that “Today, Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania have similarly united and resisted the criminal Russian aggression, which, by attacking Ukraine, tested the security of all Europe and the world.”
I am grateful for the strong support and solidarity of our Polish and Lithuanian friends who have set an example of leadership in defending common European values. Today, together with you, we are writing a new history of the struggle for the independence of our countries and the whole united Europe
Zelensky wrote.
I am convinced that this battle will be successful in the name of the January insurgents and all generations of nations – Ukrainian, Polish, Lithuanian, who have fought for centuries for the right to live as free people on their land. Eternal memory of heroes
– emphasized the President of Ukraine.
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Source: wPolityce
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.