We remember. Actions of solidarity held in Belarus (Updated, photo)
- 17.10.2008, 8:33
Actions in memory of kidnapped and murdered Belarusian opposition leaders were held in Minsk on October 16, on the Day of Solidarity. Activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus” organised some actions in the city center: they took to streets carrying portraits of Viktar Hanchar, Anatol Krasouski, Yury Zakharanka, and Zmitser Zavadski.
The actions took place on Independence Avenue near Tsentralny film theatre, in Nyamiha district, in Uruchcha district, on the intersection of Dauhabrodskaya and Uralskaya streets, near Belarus film theatre. Activists of the “European Belarus” carried posters “Sheiman, Navumau, Sivakou, Paulichenka are suspected by Council of Europe in kidnapping and murders of Belarusian opposition leaders”. The participants of the action also had portraits of activists, convicted at the Trial of 14 for participation in entrepreneurs’ protests.
“A part of Belarusian prisoners of conscience was released two month ago due to solidarity actions and pressure of the international community. But repressions against the opposition haven’t stopped but tightened. More than hundred of cases of repression against activists of the “Boycott” campaign were recorded during the recent “electoral campaign”. Political prisoners, namely youth activists, convicted for participation in entrepreneurs’ protests, still remain in Belarus. In fact, they are sentenced to house arrest and may face a term in prison in future. Moreover, we should remember that investigations of disappearance of opposition leaders hasn’t been conducted yet, and people, suspected in disappearances, still occupy public posts.
We continue taking to streets on Solidarity Day demanding to release all political prisoners, stop repressions against opposition activists and carry out an independent investigation of disappearance of famous public figures. It is stupidly to speak about liberalisation and democratisation until this is fulfilled,” activist of the “European Belarus” Yauhen Afnahel told in an interview to the Charter’97 press center.
Actions of solidarity were held yesterday in many Belarusians towns: Polatsk, Salihorsk, Barysau, Zhodzina, Mazyr, Brest, Vitsebsk, Mahilou, etc. Pickets near Belarusian embassies took place in many cities of the world.
Political prisoners former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Kazulin, youth activist Andrei Kim, and entrepreneurs’ leader Syarhei Parsyukevich were released two months ago.
The list of political prisoners does not end on that. 10 opposition activists have been sentenced to restriction of freedom for 2 years without sending them to special institutions. They are Alyaksei Bondar, Artsyom Dubski, Mikhal Kryvau, Mikhal Pashkevich, Alyaksandr Straltsou, Alyaksandr Charnyshou, Tatsyana Tishkevich, Mikhal Subash and Paval Vinahradau. Maxim Dashuk as a minor is sentenced to a year and a half of restriction of freedom.
Initiators of days of Solidarity three years ago were the leader of the initiative “We remember”, a widow of the abducted businessman and public leader Iryna Krasouskaya, a well-known journalist Iryna Khalip and a young leader Mikita Sasim. The idea to hold days of Solidarity appeared after police disbanded a rally dedicated to the anniversary of abduction of the Vice Speaker of the Supreme Soviet of the 13th convocation Viktar Hanchar and businessman and public leader Anatol Krasouski on September 16, 2005. Policemen seized portraits of the disappeared politicians (people were also holding portraits of former Interior Minister Yury Zakharanka and journalist Dzmitry Zavadski the abducted in Belarus) and national flags. On that day the young leader Mikita Sasim raised his jeans shirt as a symbol of resistance to dictatorship.