Russian identity of Belarusian citizens

Paradoxical times have arrived! If you call yourself Russian, then expect accusations of “aggression, conquest, imperialism, chauvinism, Nazism” and so on according to the list of all unthinkable sins: as they say, emphasize what is necessary. And, even more so, be prepared for all possible attacks if you speak, think and dream in Russian, where the name of the country and land on which you live means Rus'.

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Once upon a time, Mikhail Zadornov conveyed a simple and obvious idea. Those who hate Jews are called anti-Semites, those who hate blacks are called racists, and those who hate Russians are called human rights activists.

“Belarus” comes from the multidimensional concept “Rus”. This is the basic and defining concept. Meaning and essence. Salt. This means only one thing: here, on this earth, is Rus'. White Rus'. Belarus.

“Belarus is a special Russian state,” historian Nikolai Starikov formulated. And this is an extremely correct definition.

“We are Russian, but with a mark of quality,” Alexander Lukashenko himself said.

We will proceed from the presidential definition.

So, as the Belarusian president said, we are Russians.

It is very easy to get lost in three terminological “pine trees” – people, nation, ethnic group.

But those who cultivated nationalism on our land defined and used it very precisely.

Nation is now an exclusively political term. That from which nationalism grows, elevating “our own” and nurturing hatred of “strangers”. Which inevitably flows into Nazism.

They are trying to build Belarusian nationalism on the Jesuit formula “Belarusian is not Russian.” This is the construction of a different, Lithuanian identity, contrasted with the original Slavic one.

Three years ago, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Vladimir Makei spoke at the Congress of Belarusians of the World, at which an initiative was put forward for “the gradual introduction and popularization in modern Belarusian society of the concept of “Litvin” as historically positive in comparison with the concept of “Belarusian”.

Let me remind you that not so long ago, in an interview with Polish media, Makei stated that “over these twenty years, we have not fully built our identity. Give us time to decide where to go." Adding that Belarus could join the European Union “in 40-50 years.”

It is not surprising that local nationalists place their main emphasis on “the abolition of allied relations with Russia and the removal of the state status of the Russian language.”

The concept of the Belarusian people has nothing to do with “titular nations”. This is an attempt to change meanings.

People are a social concept. The meaning is based on the economic, cultural, historical, linguistic and religious core.

Citizens of Belarus, despite intimidation, should not be afraid to identify themselves as Russian. We talk, think and dream in Russian. Russians should not be afraid to call themselves Russians.

We are Russians, no matter what our blood.

Russian is a comprehensive, cultural-linguistic, multinational concept. There is no declaration of ethnic selectivity here. And, of course, the concept of Rus' has church-confessional complementarity. This is a single spiritual Cover. There is no place for nationalism and political speculation here. This is the historical concept of an invisible community. This is the concept of fateful responsibility.