Young Belarusians reminded EU about political prisoners and missing people (Photo, Video)
- 16.03.2009, 20:55
A rally of solidarity with political prisoners and families of the disappeared Belarusian politicians was held in the center of Minsk on March 16.
More than 100 activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus”, “Young Belarus”, and “Young Front” came to October square on the Day of Belarusian Solidarity at 8.00 p.m. young oppositionists were holding portraits of political prisoners – arrested leaders of entrepreneurs Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau, and Uladzimir Asipenka, “Young Front” activist Artsyom Dubski, diapered opposition leaders Viktar Hanchar, Yury Zakharanka, Anatol Krasouski, journalist Zmitser Zavadski, human rights activist Yana Palyakova, committed suicide, forceful drafted into the army youth leaders Franak Vyachorka, Ivan Shyla, and Zmitser Khvedaruk, and participants of the Process of 14, sentenced to restraint of liberty for participation in a protest demonstration.
The participants of the rally unfurled banners “Freedom for political prisoners!” and “Solidarity”, and raised EU flags. The demonstrators were chanting “Freedom for political prisoners!” and “Long live Belarus!”
The demonstrators noticed the fact that the EU foreign ministers had extended visa ban reprieve on Belarusian high-ranking officials, including Alyaksandr Lukashenka, on March 16. In this relation activist of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Yauhen Afnahel addressed the mob through a loudspeaker:
“We urge to stop political repressions in Belarus. We urge to release political prisoners, acquit participants of the Process of 14, the young people, who are serving punishment for participation in street actions. We urge to stop persecuting of the youth for their political views, to allow free distribution of independent press. To allow freedom of assembly. Political prisoners have appeared in our country again. Nevertheless, sanctions against the regime of Lukashenka, responsible for throwing people into prison for their political views, have been suspended. We protest against this decision and demand freedom for political prisoners!”
This time the authorities didn’t organize provocations by unmotivated beating people, and the rally was peaceful. The event was watched by militiawomen and riot militia officers in mufti, who were taking video of the rally. They addressed the people on the square through a loudspeaker calling them to “stop the unauthorized action”. In response, the demonstrators were chanting “Long live Belarus!”
Journalists at the rally heard a talk between two militia officers in civvies. One f them was talking to the other one: “Do you want to see your brother? Look, that one with a portrait, the forth person in the chain...”
