English

Russian activists demonstrate in Moscow in support of Lukashenka’s opponents

Russian human rights activists demonstrated in Moscow on August 3 in support of pro-democratic forces and civil society in Belarus.

The demonstrators displayed bear-shaped balloons and teddy bears. Teddy bears have become a symbol of fight for democracy in Belarus following mock “toy protests” held by opposition activists in Minsk and last month’s drop of teddy bears over Belarus by Swedish pilots in a pro-democracy stunt.

Some of the demonstrators wore T-shirts bearing an image of imprisoned human rights defender Ales Byalyatski.

Yury Dzhibladze, president of the Center for the Development of Democracy and Human Rights, said that Russian rights activists expressed solidarity with Belarusian civil society, which he said is persecuted by the authorities for its aspirations for democracy.

“It’s important that people in Belarus know that they are not alone and are supported in different countries,” said the activist, who was taking part in the demonstration.

The event was also aimed at attracting the attention of foreign countries that help Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s regime with loans or through trade, something that is done by European Union states, he said.

At the end of the demonstration the activists left the teddy bears near the entrance to the Belarusian embassy and pasted a sticker saying “Zhyve Belarus!” (Long Live Belarus!) on the wall of the embassy building. They also released the bear-shaped balloons into the air.