Paratroopers from Vitebsk: it's pleasant to make the right choice on Men's Day

Servicemembers of the 103rd Vitebsk Separate Guards Airborne Brigade actively participated in early voting. On February 23, at polling station No. 61, which is open at the unit, about 50 people – officers and conscripts – took part in the referendum.

20-year-old Mikhail Tomchuk from Orsha has already served 15 months. The decision to vote today was a kind of gift for Defender of the Fatherland and Armed Forces Day for him and many of his fellow soldiers:

– It’s pleasant to make the right choice on a men’s day! Firstly, it’s a significant day. Secondly, my civic duty is fulfilled. There were no doubts about whether to vote for the new draft of the Constitution or not. Of course, for it! The need to improve the Basic Law of our country has been overdue for a long time. Moreover, the draft contains norms that have the highest value for me. These are sections related to patriotism and responsibility aimed at strengthening the sovereignty of Belarus, as well as the amendment on marriage as a union of a man and a woman. The first part is clear: independence came at a high price for Belarusians. The older generations paid with blood for the peace and freedom of their Motherland. Now it is our turn to do everything to preserve its sovereignty for our children. As for marriage, talking about parent 1 and parent 2 family, as in the West, is complete nonsense, shame, and a distorted psyche of a child. I don’t wish that for my children. That’s why I voted, because family is the most important thing for any person.

 

I agree with my combat comrade Artem Potachits. The 19-year-old guy is from Polotsk, so for him, in addition to what Mikhail mentioned, moments related to the preservation of cultural and historical heritage and the memory of the Great Patriotic War are also very close. These are the spiritual anchors of Belarusians, which will help us not to lose ourselves as a nation over time, he is convinced. After completing his service, Artem plans to get a job in the Department of Internal Affairs Protection. In some ways, this echoes his childhood dreams of a military career. The choice in favor of a more peaceful career option has been adjusted considering his character, the guy admits:

– Belarusians by nature are peaceful people. We have a friendly country that does not want to conflict or fight with anyone, we don't need it. We know the price of peaceful skies and are open to cooperation.

In total, during the first two days of early voting, about 200 servicemen from the brigade's 1.5-thousand-strong staff took part in the referendum.

"SB"