Belarusian embassy in Kyiv picketed on anniversary of 1995 referendum (Photo)

• 15.05.2009, 12:01

Several activists picketed the Belarusian embassy in Kyiv on Thursday on the occasion of 14 years since a referendum that restored Belarus’ Soviet-era state emblems and granted the status of state language to Russian.

The protesters demanded that the Belarusian authorities restore the historically national emblems and end the persecution of their political opponents, participant Mikalay Malukha told BelaPAN.

Speaking during the protest, Jaroslaw Lukasik, a Polish Protestant pastor who was expelled from Belarus in 2007, said that the 1995 referendum had ushered in a period of censorship, pressure on the opposition and private business, and the persecution of Protestant communities.

The pastor also highlighted the criminal case against Vawkavysk dissident Mikalay Awtukhovich, who has been on a hunger strike for nearly a month to protest his detention.

Diplomats refused to walk out of the embassy’s building to accept an appeal to the Belarusian government and the protesters had to deliver the paper to police officers who guarded the compound.

The protesters warned of more demonstrations in front of the embassy if the Belarusian government ignored their demands.