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Lukashenka: The West uses sanctions instead of being grateful for defeat of Nazis

The West tries to dictate and uses sanctions instead being grateful for the defeat of the Nazis, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said Wednesday in Minsk, speaking at the opening ceremony for a new building for the Belarusian State Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War.

“It would be reasonable to assume that the Western states should appreciate the contribution of our nations to the Great Victory, but we can see that instead of being grateful, they try to insolently dictate to us and use sanctions against us,” the Belarusian leader said, according to the government’s news agency BelTA.

Mr. Lukashenka stressed that Belarus highly appreciated the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, “the head of the brotherly state and the closest and reliable ally, at this memorable event.” “It was with great Russia, with the brotherly Russian people that we achieved that difficult but much-needed Great Victory. It is symbolic that we are opening this sacred place of memory together.”

Mr. Putin emphasized the importance of the museum. “It is a real monument to the immortal heroism of our ancestors and compatriots, all those who fought against Nazism,” he said, adding that the museum would help educate the younger generation, who he said should follow the example of the true heroes who defended their home country and freedom. “It is extremely important to teach youth to detest the ideas of Nazism in order to prevent Nazism from ever rising anywhere again.”

The display of the Great Patriotic War museum in Minsk will leave no one untouched, the Russian president wrote in his entry in the book of distinguished guests.

“It tells about the heroes who defended the freedom and independence of the Motherland, the immortal heroism of soldiers, guerilla fighters and workers of the home front,” the entry said. “I heartily thank the staff of the museum for the very necessary and useful work.”

Mr. Putin presented the museum with a selection of newspaper articles about the liberation of Belarus from Nazi occupation. //BelaPAN