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Wheelchair users rally in Minsk, deliver petition to Presidential Administration

Some 100 people, including around 70 wheelchair users attended an authorized rally near Bangalore Square in Minsk on Saturday to highlight their problems and protest a government-sponsored bill that would abolish benefits for many groups of people.

Speaking at the one-hour rally, participants complained of widespread discrimination and poor wheelchair access. Particular concerns were voiced over the draft legislation that is expected to abolish certain benefits for people with disability.

A resolution calling on the government to solve the problems and revise the draft law was adopted at the rally.

Between 30 and 40 wheelchair users then rode half a dozen kilometers to the Presidential Administration's building in downtown Minsk to deliver the resolution. However, as they were approaching Alyaksandr Lukashenka's office, the road leading to the building was blocked by riot police officers.

After several minutes of talks, a Presidential Administration official invited five wheelchair users to the secretariat room to deliver the petition.

The wheelchair users could not enter the room because of a too narrow doorway and had to wait for a carpenter to open the second door at the two-door entrance. //BelaPAN