English

Opposition stages Freedom Day demonstration

Opposition activists staged a demonstration in Minsk on Thursday evening to mark the 92nd anniversary of the proclamation of the independence of the short-lived Belarusian National Republic (BNR).

The “Dzen Voli” (Freedom Day) demonstration boiled down to a rally in the square in front of the National Academy of Sciences, the government-authorized assembly place for the event.

Some 2,000 demonstrators gathered in the square amid a heavy police presence.

Shortly before the event, the organizers had their sound-amplifying equipment seized by police, although high-ranking police officials had promised that they would not prevent sound-amplifying equipment from being used at the site.

Using a megaphone, speakers called on Belarusians to unite and expressed hope that Dzen Voli would eventually become a public holiday.

After the speeches were over, the organizers suggested that participants form a line along the opposite side of Independence Avenue, Minsk’s main thoroughfare, so that their flags, banners and signs could be seen by people in passing-by vehicles.

A few hundred people, mostly youths, attempted to march down Independence Avenue, chanting “Zhyve Belarus!” (Long Live Belarus!) and displaying historically national white-red-whit flags. They walked about 200 yards along a sideway of the avenue until dozens of police in full riot gear blocked their path at the first crossroads.

Standing face-to-face with the police cordon, the crowd began to thin and gradually dissolved. No arrests were reported.

“We’ve managed to stage a full-scale demonstration, although it may not be up to the mark,” Alyaksey Yanukevich, chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front,” commented in an interview with BelaPAN. “The event was rather a success, as it drew a large number of people despite authorities’ obstacles to the organization of the rally and the seizure of our sound-amplifying equipment.”