As many as 7,000 of Lemkos from the USA, Canada, Ukraine, Belgium, France, Poland, Slovakia, Russia and Belarus have participated in the 9th international festival of Lemko's culture "Bells of Lemkoland", Head of the all-Ukrainian society "Lemkoland" Oleksandr Venhrinovych said, Government’s press office reports.
Within the framework of the festival the participants take part in a solemn procession, concert and festivities.
Notably, Lemkos are ethnic Ukrainians residing in the Carpathian mountains. As many as 500,000 of them were forced out to Ukraine in 1944 to 1946 in the result of an agreement between the Polish and Soviet authorities.
