English

Young people stage pillow fight to mark anniversary of Grunwald battle

 

Dozens of youths arriving at the building of the National Library of Belarus on Thursday evening with pillows were arrested by police.

A youth organization called Historyka (Historical Studies) intended to stage a mass pillow fight there to mark the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald that took place on July 15, 1410, with the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Litva (Lithuania) beating the knights of the Teutonic Order.

The city authorities banned the event.

Around 70 people were apprehended, but a brief pillow fight was still staged, near the subway station.

The event has no political flavor, prominent opposition youth Andrey Kim, who was among the organizers, told reporters. “It is aimed at promoting peace and celebrating the 600th anniversary of the Grunwald battle,” Mr. Kim said.

The first mass pillow fight was staged in Minsk on July 15, 2009 on the occasion of the 599th anniversary of the Grunwald battle in defiance of the authorities’ ban. Another pillow fight took place in September to celebrate the anniversary of the 1514 Orsha Battle; the city government sanctioned the event in which around 400 young people took part.

Photos:
1, 6 - Andrey Kim (in the center)