Podlaskie voivode Jacek Brzozowski met with former Ambassador of Belarus to Poland, Deputy Chairman of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus Pavel Latushka. The meeting was also attended by representatives of Podlaskie Belarusian minority communities and the Belarusian diaspora.
“Poland of the 1980s, “Solidarity” trade union are topics that Belarusians often talk about. Here we have a chance to preserve our language, our culture and identity, which will become a source of restoration of Belarus in the future”, – Pavel Latushka said, noting that Belarusians perceive Poland as an important partner and an example to follow.
At the same time, he drew attention to the importance of Podlaskie Voivodeship, where both refugees from Lukashenka’s Belarus and the Belarusian minority live. He expressed satisfaction that platforms for dialogue on the most important problems of this community in Poland are being created at the government level. This is a group created jointly by the Belarusian the United Transitional Cabinet and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration of Poland, as well as a working group under the Ministry of National Education.
Podlaskie voivode Jacek Brzozowski announced assistance in solving those problems that can be solved at the local level. “I have already talked with the Podlaskie head of education for Belarusian schools and I can assure you that we will do everything possible so that they do not close”, – the voivode assured.
According to Brzozowski, a Voivodeship Commissioner for Minority Affairs has been appointed for such cases. His task will be to diagnose the most important problems facing Belarusians living in the voivodeship as well as to organize meetings at which these issues will be discussed.
The threat of preserving two secondary schools with the Belarusian language (Belarusian lyceums) in Hajnówka and Bielsk-Podlaski arosed in 2022, when some parents declared their unwillingness for their children to study the Belarusian language there and then take the final exam in it. They were supported by the voivodeship educational authorities, referring to the law on the education system of 1991 and the decree of the Minister of Education of August 18, 2017. They refer to the voluntary choice of learning the language of a national minority. Belarusian organizations do not agree with this in any way, which rightly point out that not learning the Belarusian language and, accordingly, the absence of an exam on it puts an end to the Belarusian lyceums.
