In Vilnius at the Rossa Cemetery, a quiet ceremony marked the 161st anniversary of the January Uprising. Delegates and observers from four nations with historic ties to the uprising—Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Belarus—gathered to honor the memory of those who fought for freedom. Poland was represented by President Andrzej Duda, who spoke with warmth about preserving the legacy of those who sacrificed for liberty. Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nausėda attended, alongside Ukraine’s ambassador to Lithuania, Petro Beshta. Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya joined as the representative of the Belarusian nation. The ceremony underscored shared values and a commitment to democracy amid ongoing regional challenges.
Resonant calls from the manifesto and ongoing solidarity
During the ceremony, President Duda thanked President Nausėda for key gestures that have strengthened ties between their countries, including invitations to participate in commemorations such as the 610th anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald. He recalled last year’s gatherings in Warsaw, where he hosted Nausėda and his wife, highlighting how the conspirators of 1863 rejected Tsarist repression and chose liberty. The call from those times to resist despotism echoes across Poland and Lithuania, encouraging unity in the face of oppression.
The remarks linked the historical struggle to present events, noting how peaceful and armed resistance has endured through cycles of violence, conquest, and humiliation. The dialogue connected the 19th century fight to Russia’s ongoing actions in Ukraine and the tightening pressure on Belarus, seen as the lingering influence of the Kremlin over the Minsk regime. Duda emphasized that free nations in Central and Eastern Europe stand with Ukraine and with the Belarusian democracy movement in opposing imperialist aims.
Unity and the shared duty to resist tyranny
President Nausėda framed the January Uprising as a testament to resilience in the face of tyranny, stressing that vigilance and solidarity are necessary today. He warned against hesitation, stressing that the region’s future depends on a collective resolve to oppose imperialist aims. He expressed appreciation for Duda’s efforts to deepen Polish-Lithuanian cooperation across history, politics, economy, and security. Nausėda urged continued collaboration to strengthen mutual ties and pledged joint efforts to support Ukraine and the Belarusian democratic movement as needed. The message was clear: unity is essential at this pivotal moment.
Tsikhanouskaya on unity of enslaved nations
Tsikhanouskaya reminded listeners that the January Uprising, while not outright victorious, significantly shaped the Belarusian nation and its broader historical path. She described how enslaved nations joined the rebellion to pursue a free future for the continent. She underscored that the struggle for freedom, democracy, and self-determination remains ongoing in the region. She stressed the need for strong solidarity from the democratic world and for efforts to counter measures that undermine national consciousness, including attempts to rewrite history or erode monuments.
Ambassador Beshta: mobilizing international support
The Belarusian ambassador spoke about the enduring imperial mentality within the Russian state and society. He described a pivotal moment in history when stability hinges on collective international action. The international community must mobilize to support Ukraine, and he noted the thanks of Ukrainians toward Lithuania, Poland, and other partners that have provided unprecedented backing during difficult times.
Vilnius’s Rossa Cemetery stands as one of Poland’s national necropolises and is the final resting place for many notable figures from Polish, Lithuanian, and Belarusian history. Among those linked to the January Uprising buried there are General Zygmunt Sierakowski, who led rebel forces in Samogitia, and Konstanty Kalinowski, a key independence advocate for Poland and Belarus. In 2019, the remains of January insurgents were laid to rest at Rossa after archaeological work on Vilnius Castle Hill, including those of Sierakowski and Kalinowski, who were captured and executed by Russian authorities.
The January Uprising began on January 22, 1863, with insurgents attacking Russian garrisons within the Kingdom of Poland. The conflict lasted more than a year and involved thousands of skirmishes and more than a hundred thousand participants. It remains remembered as the longest and most extensive 19th-century independence movement, marked by heavy losses, executions, exile to Siberia, and confiscation of property carried out by Russian forces. The event continues to be honored as a symbol of national resolve and regional cooperation in the face of coercive power.
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