Figures of the Belarusian emigration argued over the lists of guests invited to the reception of the President of Poland
It all started with a post by Aliaksei Dzikavitski, former director of «Belsat», who raised a problem on Facebook: someone crossed him off the list of guests invited to Navrotski's reception. «Grown-up people, doing such nonsense,» he writes. In the comments, others who were also not invited responded.
Describing the context, Dzikavitski explains that the Administration of the Polish President, since Duda's time, invites Belarusians to a festive reception at the presidential palace. Dzikavitski went there every year, but in 2026 he was not invited, «although he was on the lists.»
According to Dzikavitski, this happened due to intrigues by Belarusians, «whom officials asked to prepare and verify the guest lists» — they, allegedly, «did everything possible to cross Dzikavitski off the lists.»
He connects this with «not saying thank you properly, but calling vileness vileness.»
Dzikavitski admits that he doesn't know exactly who crossed him off this time, but he has a guess. And at the same time, he admits that the names of others, much more worthy than him, were also crossed off.
He ends his cry from the heart with an appeal to those who were involved in compiling the lists.
«If you think you have the right to decide who is worthy of being called a member of the Belarusian community and who is not — you are mistaken. The fact that you accidentally found yourselves in the right situation and at the right time does not give you the right to decide who is a true Belarusian and who is not, and even less so — to monopolize Belarusian representation. It would be better to use this situation as a chance to work on your own complexes, your arrogance. And then do something more useful, if you know how.
I've lived here long enough to have met and spoken with all the presidents of my second homeland, I still have a private mobile number for one, and for another, I once helped write a speech concerning Belarus.
Therefore, your petty mischief means nothing to me — neither professionally nor personally.
Please listen to an older comrade: if you constantly betray and revile your own (this isn't the first time, is it?), others won't respect you either.»
In a postscript, Dzikavitski added that he would most likely be at the reception through the efforts of third parties. Therefore, he preemptively asks the «arbiters of fate» not to approach him with false smiles, because he doesn't want to shake hands, but he also won't behave impolitely so that Belarusians aren't thought ill of.
«I recognize this handwriting»
In the comments, Dzikavitski was supported by some of his former colleagues.
Thus, former «Belsat» presenter Siarhei Padsasonny noted:
«Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty… It's as old as the world. The pettiness of these 'Napoleons' doesn't even surprise, doesn't impress, it just evokes disgust.»
Former «Belsat» employee Ihar Kulei shared that he was also crossed off last year.
«Our certain 'distinguished' representatives of democratic forces became an extension of internal Polish squabbles and threw out everyone who did not support the purges at 'Belsat', and perhaps not only us,»
Kulei expressed his version of the motivation and named the culprits:
«I recognize this handwriting. (…) The 'inconvenient' are crossed off either by representatives of the APK (United Transitional Cabinet) or Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office, there's no one else.»
Other representatives of democratic circles also joined the discussion.
The most laconic was Babaryka's associate Ivan Kraŭtsou, who left the following post: «+1 here.»
Former speaker of the Coordination Council Andrei Yahorau was also brief: «How familiar.»
«Canceling, marginalization, tripping, dirt»
But politician and associate of Zianon Pazniak Pavel Usaŭ spoke very critically and unequivocally:
«This is actually very dreadful, because if 'Belarusians' (whose names should still be known) commit such vile acts in a foreign country, then I fear to imagine what they will do in Belarus.
The answer is obvious. Therefore, based on this and other examples, one can directly say that changes with such changemakers are dangerous for Belarus.
On the other hand, I think that the clan that now supposedly represents the opposition is actually doing everything to prevent changes from happening. For the democratic community, THEY are even more harmful than Lukashenka, because he doesn't call himself a democrat.»
Founder of «White Legion» Siarhei Bulba supported the criticism:
«How far they are from the people…» a parallel reality. People who only cut grants on the Belarusian topic try to portray themselves as capable of deciding the fate of the people. A disgusting sight. One wants to stay away from you.»
Former employee of Tsikhanouskaya's Office Valer Kavaleuski recounted his similar story:
«The Polish Foreign Ministry a month ago requested my personal data for an invitation to a reception, which they then passed to the President's chancellery. The threads ended there. And I am convinced that this decision is not from the Polish side, but from the main representatives of the Belarusian people, the eternal leaders and impeccable symbols of our democratic choice.
Canceling, marginalization, tripping, dirt, and slander of opponents or people with alternative opinions on the path to resolving the crisis in Belarus have become the norm for the political structures of the democratic movement.»
«Their next step will be to get a Pomeranian»
The head of the Association of Belarusian Business Yauhen Bury also shared his observations. According to him, this year he received no invitation to the Christmas reception of the President of Poland, nor to the Christmas reception of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
«Well, unless it was the Polish side that influenced Sviatlana's decision not to invite me to her receptions anymore. Because the Office itself couldn't just take and cross me off their lists just because I wasn't loyal and could say what I really thought about both the Office and the UTC. And I sincerely believe that they truly strive for 'maximum diversity and inclusivity'.»
Bury's sarcasm was supported by his wife Maryna Hiyrin. According to her, «in recent years, for some democratic politicians, it has become completely normal to attend receptions, media channels, and go on business trips with their children.»
Hiyrin adds that she wouldn't be surprised «if their next step is to get a Pomeranian and go everywhere with it too, they need to somehow raise their reputation if singing doesn't help.»
What the accused answered
At the same time, adviser to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya Franak Viačorka assured:
«I am not involved and have not been involved. (…) The Office and the Cabinet do not cross anyone off, but on the contrary, strive to add names and send them to the organizers so that no one is forgotten and everyone is invited and satisfied — this is the goal of the Christmas reception — to gather everyone, regardless of views, parties, professions. We always strive for maximum diversity and inclusivity.»
One of the list compilers, an employee of the United Transitional Cabinet, journalist and art manager Irena Katsialovich, responded to the criticism.
«At the cost of 'sacrificing' some regulars, those who have never been to the reception will attend — these are representatives of culture, media, public figures, as well as recently released political prisoners.
If it were possible to invite everyone, they would probably be invited, but with the available opportunities, someone, unfortunately, must yield.
Among the 'newcomers', it was also not possible to invite everyone one would have liked, but their reactions showed much more understanding,» Katsialovich explained and added: «Any such list is unfair, biased, and cannot satisfy everyone, but it is regrettable that the gentlemen in the comments, understanding this, use the reception of the President of Poland as another occasion for quarrels and conspiracy theories.»
«If you care so much about justice and inclusivity — then you should have declined yourselves»
Yauhen Bury entered into an argument with her, emphasizing that no one discussed the possibility of a replacement with business representatives:
«If I had such an option — to decline participation in favor of another (for example, a political prisoner) — I would gladly do it. But it wasn't there. No one discussed anything with us as a business community.»
«If you care so much about justice and inclusivity — then you as political structures should have declined yourselves in favor of others. One representative would have been enough — especially since it's almost all the same people (and it's not at all necessary to go there with children). You see, a couple of dozen places would have been freed up for others,» Bury summarized.
Blogger Aliaksandr Knyrovich also decided to speak out:
«Funny… funny that I'm not alone, it turns out… before — they invited, now — no. I'm very glad that I yielded this place to someone more worthy to attend the presidential reception.»
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Помню была такая шутка о том как поругались в эмиграции два российских императора. )