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«Tell the Truth!» movement sums up this year`s activities

Activists of the “Tell the Truth!” movement met with reporters in a Minsk cafe on Thursday to sum up their activities this year.

“I have analyzed what I or other activists of the ‘Tell the Truth!’ movement said or promised to see that every single word was put into action,” said movement leader Uladzimir Nyaklyayew, who ran in the December 2010 presidential election.

But some things were not accomplished because of obstacles put by the authorities, he said.

“Social contacts with people account for the most difficult part of our work,” said Mr. Nyaklyayew. “It is very difficult to talk or negotiate with people who are under pressure. It is difficult to convince them that we are really interested to see changes in their life.”

Syarhey Vaznyak, activist of the “Tell the Truth!” movement, said that hundreds of parcels and more than 2,000 telegrams, letters and postcards with words of support had been sent to political prisoners as part of the movement’s solidarity campaign.

Various events were held across the country to raise public awareness of the imprisonment of Andrey Sannikaw, Mikalay Statkevich, Dsmitry Bandarenka and Ales Byalyatski, said Mr. Vaznyak.

The participation of Mr. Nyaklyayew, who is under a suspended sentence, in “silent protests” this past summer “in defiance of all risks” was also very important, he noted.

In addition, Mr. Vaznyak said, the movement initiated a round-table discussion at which opposition leaders compiled a single list of political prisoners to increase the efficiency of the fight for their release.

Famous Belarusian musician Zmitser Vaytsyushkevich was invited to the meeting in the cafe. “I joined the movement more than a year ago,” he said. “It is becoming increasingly difficult to play concerts in Belarus. But there are good things, too. There is still a hope for Belarus to live by.” //BelaPAN