What do the awards for a new Belarus look like? PHOTOS
Over the past few years, the democratic forces of Belarus have created an entire system of national awards, designed to replace Lukashenka's medals. "Nasha Niva" learned more about what the new Belarusian medals will look like and what they will be awarded for.
We asked a specialist in this field, with the call sign "Tuman" (Fog), to tell us about the developed awards system.
National award system of Belarus
"Awards always emerge at critical, destiny-defining moments in the history of a people and state, when a large number of people appear ready to sacrifice their own lives, health, and well-being for the Motherland. Awards emerge when national leaders take responsibility for the fate of the people, when it is necessary to unite society in the struggle against common enemies," Tuman explains. —
Today, Lukashenka allegedly presents awards on behalf of the Belarusian state.
But in fact, under the guise of state awards, Lukashenka distributes badges of loyalty to himself personally."
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya awarded Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski with the Cross of Good Neighborhood. Photo: Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
All current official state awards are mostly made in the Soviet ideological spirit, in Soviet aesthetics. Sometimes they are simply copies of USSR awards.
Attempts to introduce truly Belarusian awards into the Soviet set of awards in the 1990s ended unsuccessfully: for example, the Order of Kastuś Kalinoŭski was never awarded and was abolished by Lukashenka's will.
"And ideologically neutral awards, including
the medal and order of Francysk Skaryna, were completely discredited during the years of the dictatorship, as many of those who were awarded them did nothing notable for Belarus — and sometimes, on the contrary, are open enemies of our country and our people," —
notes the interlocutor.
Sweden's Foreign Minister Tobias Billström in formal attire. Among the awards is the Belarusian Cross of Good Neighborhood.
He believes that the new awards system is seen as a necessary tool to encourage Belarusians in their struggle against the dictatorship in the country and against external enemies of Belarus.
"Today, a project for this reform already exists. The system of awards we propose is slowly being put into action. At this stage, it is public in nature, but in the future, it will be able to be adopted by a legitimate democratic government in Belarus, virtually in its ready-made form."
Medals and crosses of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus
"Nasha Niva": What is the essence of your proposed system and how was it created?
Tuman: The united team began work on the project in August 2022. The system incorporates the developments and many years of experience of Belarusian heraldists, phalerists, and historians.
The project of the national award system created by the Heraldic Council allows for recognition of a person's merits before Belarus and Belarusian society in the most important spheres: both in war and in civilian life, including state building, science, and culture.
Flag Medal with the profile of architect Klaudius Duzh-Dusheǔski, author of the white-red-white flag.
The project also includes specific medals aimed at Belarusian realities: for example, the Medal of the Unconquered named after Larysa Hienijush for political prisoners, the medal "Honor and Dignity" — for a significant contribution to the struggle for the liberation of Belarus, and
even a special medal for people who suffered for defending the Belarusian national white-red-white flag.
The new Belarusian awards system consists of three levels or degrees: the lowest — medals (11 of them), the middle — crosses (six), and the highest — orders (also six).
By purpose, they are divided into military and civilian. To avoid unlimited distribution of awards, and also to motivate people, all three degrees are linked in a precisely subordinated chain: those awarded medals, for their repeated merits, have the right to be nominated for crosses, and then for orders.
Partisan People's Cross of the Belarusian Liberation Army
For example, a serviceman awarded the BNR Medal for Combat Merits, or the Medal for Bravery, or the BNR Partisan Medal, depending on the requirements of the statutes and the circumstances of the heroic act, may be awarded crosses, such as the Tadeusz Kościuszko Cross, or the Partisan People's Cross, or the Emilia Plater Cross. Further, for heroic military service, the Order of Usiaslaŭ Bračyslavich, the Order of Kastuś Kalinoŭski, and, of course, not only a military but also a civilian supreme award of Belarus — the Order of Heroes — are provided.
It is important that by an order, in accordance with its historical definition, and not as is customary in Soviet or Lukashenka's tradition, we understand not just a badge hung on the chest, but an organization — a community of distinguished people of Belarus. Members of these communities must actively participate in the social, political, and cultural life of the state and nation.
One could say that the title of a Knight or Dame of the Order is not only an honor but also certain rights and obligations described in the statutes. Our prototypes were knightly and ecclesiastical Orders, like the Maltese Order.
The Order should not just be an award, but a tool to unite meritorious people and direct their potential for the benefit of Belarus.
Knight's (2nd degree) and Commander's (1st degree) Cross of the Order of Pahonia from the BNR Rada
Commander's Cross (1st degree) and Medal (3rd degree) of the Order of Pahonia from the BNR Rada
"NN": It is known that each country has its own stylistic solution for awards, some national distinctive features, the same design, sizes, and constructive aspects. What is a Belarusian award like?
Tuman: Distinctive features of any national awards system are the shape of the ribbons, the ratio of the size of the ribbons and suspended medallions, the shapes of crosses and stars, their visual national characteristics, constructions, relief, use of enamels, color combinations and divisions of ribbons, and many other things understood by professional phalerists, manufacturers, and collectors.
We have developed our own Belarusian national system, based on numerous historical — primarily Belarusian — examples, on a pan-European classical approach to awards, and a rejection of the Russian-Soviet legacy.
This is a certain arsenal of means for designing stars, crosses, round and oval medallions, vertical straight or bow-shaped ribbons, ribbons of different purposes, chains, and other elements.
The new Belarusian awards are designed in a strict European style; they are not overloaded with illustrative elements, flashy enamels, complex five-pointed ribbon shapes and ribbon divisions, as well as other details characteristic of Lukashenka's awards borrowed from Russia.
"NN": It is clear that the process of creating the system itself took time, but one could not wait until "the hero finds the award," so military medals and crosses appeared immediately, and then civilian medals. How did you combine theory with immediate practice?
Tuman: For us, our soldiers who are now fighting for the freedom of not only Ukraine but also Belarus are undeniable heroes. For this reason, there arose a need not to wait for better times, but to thank Belarusian servicemen now for their brave and heroic deeds.
Medal for combat merits from the BNR Rada
Many of them had Ukrainian combat awards but did not have Belarusian ones. In March 2023, the BNR Rada presented the first Medals for Combat Merits to the Kalinoŭski regiment fighters in Kyiv, which were developed by the Heraldic Council in cooperation with the BNR Rada and
cast from metal of downed Russian tanks.
This was, probably, the first documented ceremony in history (or at least the first since the times of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth or the Grand Duchy of Lithuania) of awarding Belarusian combat awards to Belarusian warriors who shed blood in a just war against the enemy.
And this is, undoubtedly, a historical event.
Cross of the Order of the Iron Knight of the BNR
"NN": Who has the authority to award national honors? Do you design medals separately for the United Transitional Cabinet and for the BNR Rada, or is there some duplication of awards? Both structures obviously want to award for approximately the same merits.
Tuman: The BNR Rada's awards system was almost fully formed back in the 1950s. We only developed the Medal for Combat Merits for the BNR Rada, refined the design details of the Medal of the Order of Pahonia, and also adapted and executed standard images of previously created BNR awards, such as the badge of the Order of the Iron Knight and the Partisan Medal.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya awarded the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola with the Cross of Good Neighborhood. Photo: Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
The awards presented by the United Transitional Cabinet are not considered by us as "UTC awards" per se. These are Belarusian national awards that the Cabinet has the right to present, based on the legitimacy of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya as the democratic leader of Belarus and the elected president of Belarus.
We proceed from the assumption that these awards will exist longer than the United Transitional Cabinet, and will return to Belarus as state awards.
We see no problem if the UTC and the BNR Rada will award the same people (which is already happening) and, possibly, for the same deeds. These bodies act independently of each other and do not coordinate their awards. Perhaps it would be expedient for them to cooperate in this matter, as far as their statutory documents allow. In any case, receiving an award from both the BNR Rada and the UTC is an additional honor for truly deserving people.
Medal of the Belarusian Liberation Army "For assistance to the Belarusian army".
There is another entity that, in current conditions, will present some Belarusian national awards: the command of the Belarusian Liberation Army (BLA), which is now intensively forming and expanding as a national resistance, without declaring it.
For example, within the national awards system, we have developed and manufactured the Medal for Assistance to the Belarusian Army, which will be awarded, for instance, to volunteers who help in the formation of the BLA. It will also be awarded for personal service in BLA units, partisan, and underground activities.
Breast badge "For participation in combat operations and defense of Ukraine" for soldiers of the Kalinoŭski Regiment
"NN": The BNR Rada previously created a whole series of medals, about whose awarding almost nothing is known. Were they considered when designing the new medals?
Tuman: The BNR Rada has been conducting relatively active award work since 2018, when 180 people received the Medal for the Centennial of the BNR, and recently resumed it, starting to present the Medal of the Order of Pahonia and the BNR Medal for Combat Merits.
Also, the socio-political activist, book publisher, and outstanding warrior Mirosław Łazowski (call sign "Mysha"), one of the commanders of the Kalinoŭski regiment, was awarded the Order of the Iron Knight, unfortunately posthumously. Before that, there were awards in the 1950s, but most likely none until 2018.
Of course, we considered the existing BNR awards when developing new ones. This is also part of the common Belarusian heritage; it is the work of our predecessors, and it is very important to ensure historical continuity so that the system reflects rich Belarusian historical experience.
Moreover, the BNR awards — for example, the Order of Pahonia — unequivocally refer to the traditions of state awards from the times of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
This ancient heritage, which unites Belarusians with our neighbors and historical allies (Poles and Lithuanians), we also take into account in our work. For example, the Medal for Combat Merits, developed for the BNR Rada, in its design refers to an early version of the Virtuti Militari order medal, established on June 22, 1792, by Stanisław August Poniatowski.
Manufactured Medals for Combat Merits of various degrees await their heroes
"NN": Are the UTC and BNR Rada awards two independent systems or are they intertwined?
Tuman: As we already noted, the BNR Rada's awards system was formed back in the 1950s, while the new system was developed recently.
Our goal is for the BNR awards to organically integrate into the updated national awards system in a future democratic Belarus.
The BNR Rada, as we understand it, also foresees that along with the transfer of its mandate to the authorities of democratic Belarus, its awards will also be transferred to the Belarusian state awards system. Therefore, we tried to design the new system in such a way that these awards would have their place there and organically complement and enrich this system.
"NN": Do the UTC and the BNR Rada set any requirements for the awards? Did you have to rework the design and statutes according to their wishes?
Tuman: We engaged in quite close cooperation with the Awards Commission under the BNR Rada when designing the Medal for Combat Merits and the refined design of the Medal of the Order of Pahonia, which was developed by the BNR Rada. The BNR representatives have accumulated certain experience in this field, and the cooperation was very productive.
Other awards we developed independently, based on our own experience, on the established system, and did not consider any political centers as clients.
Medal "For fruitful work for the benefit of Belarus". On the reverse side, the inscription "Diligence and work"
"NN": It is understandable that the specifics of emigration leave their mark on the planning of work, so the usual approach, where a medal was first approved and then awarded, sometimes does not work. It is not the first time that someone is awarded, but the statute never appears anywhere. Do you not see a problem of representation in this?
Tuman: Honestly, history offers enough examples, especially during wartime, when an award is first created and presented, and then the statutory documents are finalized.
In peacetime, with an appropriate structure in place, it should be so: every award has a statute and formulated criteria by which it is presented.
But you are right that there are shortcomings in representation and communication — we hope that the statutes of the awards presented by the UTC will soon be published, similar to how the statutes of the BNR Rada awards are published on the BNR Rada's website.
Medal named after Larysa Hienijush. On the reverse side, the inscription "Live for Belarus"
"NN": Why were the personalities of Larysa Hienijush and the Lutskievich brothers chosen for the awards? Were there no worthy figures from more recent history?
Tuman: Larysa Hienijush and the Lutskievich brothers are quite recent history. Larysa Hienijush is practically our contemporary. We tried to reflect various pivotal stages of Belarusian history in the awards system: both the Republic of Belarus, and the Belarusian People's Republic, and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Ruthenia, and Samogitia, and the Polotsk Principality.
I agree that the figures of our modern heroes are also worthy of embodiment in "award metal," possibly in departmental awards, commemorative desk medals, breast badges, special marks on a serviceman's shoulder strap if the regiment will bear the name of a modern hero, or perhaps another state award will be created. Time will tell, and we are ready for the work.
New Francysk Skaryna Medal
"NN": The Francysk Skaryna Medal already exists in Belarus, and there is also the Order of Francysk Skaryna. How does the new medal essentially differ from them?
Tuman: The Francysk Skaryna Medal and Order were significantly discredited during Lukashenka's presidency. In violation of statutory documents, they were awarded to people who are openly hostile to Belarus and Belarusian culture, as well as even some vulgar Russian pop singers, which looks like an insult and mockery of Belarus.
Therefore, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, using the powers granted to her by the Belarusian people, signed a resolution on establishing a new award, which will be received by truly deserving people.
At the same time, awards granted to Belarusians before November 1996 — the time of Aliaksandr Lukashenka's usurpation of undivided state power in Belarus — remain valid.
Those who received the Skaryna medal and order after November 1996, after verification, will either have to lose these awards or receive awards of the new design.
In general, the later fate of awards presented by dictators is known from historical examples. The Provisional Government of Russia abolished tsarist awards, titles, and ranks in 1917; in 1945, Nazi Germany's awards were abolished; and even now, Belarusians fighting for the freedom of their Motherland have renounced awards previously given by the dictator.
According to historical examples, it is also known that dictatorial medals will not be worn out of fear and disgust, this time betraying their idol.
Manufactured "Honor and Dignity" medals
"NN": Regarding the person of Skaryna himself. Recent scientific studies show that the first printer did not have a mustache, as was previously believed, but on the medal, he is depicted with one. Why?
Tuman: The design of the Francysk Skaryna medal is such because it is based on the design of the old medal.
We would also like to respond to critics of the blue and yellow colors of the Skaryna medal ribbon: such colors were featured on Francysk Skaryna's coat of arms, located on the reverse side.
"NN": What other awards are still in the plans? Or have any already been abandoned?
Tuman: The awards system project is currently fully formed, and their design has been developed. Work is now underway on the statutes. Most of the medals have already been physically produced, and work on some is ongoing. We have not had to abandon any awards.
We are open to reasoned and constructive criticism, but so far our work has been appreciated more by our opponents in Belarus and clear enemies outside the Fatherland. This shows that we are on the right track.
Cross of Belarusian Revival from the United Transitional Cabinet. On the obverse, profiles of brothers Ivan and Anton Lutskievich, on the reverse, the inscription "Long live independent free Belarus"
"NN": Which of the awards have already been produced and are being presented?
Tuman: Awards from the BNR Rada are actually being presented, including the BNR Medal for Combat Merits, the "Honor and Dignity" medal, the Cross of Good Neighborhood, and the new design Francysk Skaryna Medal. We hope that the UTC will soon begin awarding the Cross of Belarusian Revival, the Larysa Hienijush Medal, and the Medal for Fruitful Work for the Benefit of Belarus to honorable Belarusians, and the BLA command will begin presenting the Medal for Assistance to the Belarusian Army.
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