English

At least 600 attend «silent» protest in Homyel

At least 600 people attended a "silent" anti-government protest in Homyel.

Heeding a call made by an online campaign called "Revolution through Social Networks," the people attempted to enter the city's central Lenin Square, but the venue was closed off to the public, officially due to a parade rehearsal.

As a result, the protesters assembled in two groups, one near the statue of St. Cyril of Turaw and the other in front of the Palace of Sport.

The crowds clapped and made noise every 10 minutes. Police officers and local government officials observed the event, while plainclothesmen were filming the protesters.

Minutes into the protest, 10 activists of the pro-government Belarusian National Youth Union (BNYU) carrying state flags approached the crowd and were greeted by applause, whistles and shouts. The activists stood silently near the statue in what appeared to be part of a BNYU demonstration on the occasion of 70 years since Nazi Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union.

Although police made no arrests, they ordered the BelaPAN correspondent to delete videos made during the protest from the camera.