English

Two sanctioned demonstrations staged in Brest to mark International Human Rights Day

Two sanctioned demonstrations were staged in Brest on December 10 on the occasion of International Human Rights Day.

Organized by Zinaida Mikhnyuk, chairperson of the regional chapter of the Belarusian Union of Electronic Industry Workers, one of the demonstrations took place in Internationalist Soldiers Park between 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. and was attended by 15 people. They displayed signs condemning the government’s system of compulsory employment contracts and demanding respect for labor rights, higher pay and freedom for the political prisoners.

“Unfortunately, there were few people in the remote park on this cold afternoon,” Ms. Mikhnyuk told BelaPAN. “Demonstrators expressed hope that one day we would be able to gather at the center of the city.”

The other demonstration was staged in Lakamatyw Stadium between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. and brought together 10 activists of the Hramada Belarusian Social Democratic Party, the “Tell the Truth!” movement, and the Spravedlivy Mir (Just World) Belarusian Party of the Left. They displayed signs saying, “Freedom to Political Prisoners!” and held images of imprisoned Ales Byalyatski, Mikalay Awtukhovich and Mikalay Statkevich.

“It is good that the city government has permitted our demonstration,” said its organizer, human rights defender Uladzimir Vyalichkin. “Over the last several years, almost all applications for permission to hold such events have been rejected despite the fact that Lakamatyw Stadium is a desolate place surrounded by a concrete fence.”

Internationalist Soldiers Park and Lakamatyw Stadium are the only venues designated for "mass events" in Brest, a city of about 330,000 residents.