Participation of the «State Archive of the Gomel Region» institution in the Unified Information Day at the «Gomel State College of Builders» educational institution

On September 10, 2026, ahead of National Unity Day — one of the country’s newest public holidays — Yuri Shestopalov, Director of the State Archive of the Gomel Region, took part in an information and outreach event for the teaching staff of the «Gomel State College of Builders».

«National Unity Day as a Factor of National Pride» was the theme selected for discussion during meetings between information and outreach groups and workforce collectives.

Yuri Shestopalov immersed the event participants in the historical context of the holiday, noting, among other things, that under the Peace of Riga—signed on March 18, 1921, without the participation of a Belarusian delegation—nearly half of Belarus’s territory, home to over 70% of the indigenous population, was ceded to Poland:

«The Belarusian nation was divided artificially and against its will. Neighbors, families, and relatives were separated by barbed wire and border cordons. But the most alarming aspect was that Western Belarusians found themselves on the verge of extinction—specifically as Belarusians, as a nation. Yet, the Polish authorities encountered the unyielding will of the Belarusians to pursue independent national and state-building efforts», the archive director noted.

«In 1939, when Western and Eastern Belarus were reunited following the Red Army’s campaign, and the multinational People’s Assembly of Western Belarus voted unanimously to establish Soviet power in the region and reunite with the BSSR, history once again demonstrated that only by standing shoulder to shoulder and through arduous, persistent labor can any challenge be overcome». Addressing the audience, Yuri Shestopalov emphasized that the proposal to establish National Unity Day was first voiced at the highest level in February 2021 during the 6th All-Belarusian People’s Assembly, held under the slogan «Unity. Development. Independence». By June 7, 2021, the new holiday had been added to the calendar by decree of Head of State Alexander Lukashenko.

«The citizens of our country have embraced the September 17th holiday—National Unity Day—with their hearts; for without preserving the historical memory of the sacrifices made, and without a sense of respect and love for the compatriots who gave their lives for us—for the sake of a united and indivisible Belarus—it is impossible for a strong nation-state to exist», Yuri Vasilyevich said in his concluding remarks.

As part of the event, college students were also shown a documentary titled «Reunification of the Belarusian People», prepared by the Belarusian State Archive of Film, Photo, and Sound Documents.

1. Address by Archive Director Yu.V.Shestopalov

2. Event participants

3. Participants watching documentary footage