Independence Day (Belarus)

Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus (Belarusian: Дзень Незалежнасці Рэспублікі Беларусь, Russian: День Независимости Республики Беларусь) (Republic Day) is a public holiday, the independence day of Belarus and is celebrated each year on July 3.

July 3, 1944 was also the liberation of Minsk, capital of Belarus from the Wehrmacht during the Minsk Offensive (code-named "Bagration").

Since 1991, the Independence Day was celebrated on July 27, the day of the Declaration of Sovereignty of Belarus. August 25, 1991, after the August events in Moscow, the Belarusian SSR gave the Declaration of Sovereignty of the Republic the constitutional status of the law. On December 10, 1991 the Supreme Soviet of Belarus ratified the Belavezha Accords which formally declared the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Independence was formally received December 26, 1991 in connection with the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The decision to celebrate Independence Day on July 3, the day of the liberation of Belarus from the Nazis, was made during the 1996 national referendum proposed by President Alexander Lukashenko.

The main event of Independence Day is a solemn military parade. After the official part, the holiday social events start. Throughout the country celebrations and festivities are held. In the evening in Minsk fireworks are arranged.

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