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Belarusian Christian Democracy launches campaign of solidarity with political prisoners

Belarusian Christian Democracy (BCD) will hold daily events in support of the political prisoners in a campaign called "Wave of Solidarity," Vital Rymashewski, co-chairman of the unregistered opposition party, told reporters in Minsk on Monday.

The campaign began on February 11 and will come to an end on March 25, the 95th anniversary of the proclamation of the independence of the 1918 Belarusian National Republic (BNR).

BCD calls on all people who are in favor of democratic reform and on pro-democratic organizations to join the events, which will take place alternately in large and medium-sized cities, Mr. Rymashewski said. Campaigners will be staging demonstrations and rallies, raising funds for the families of the victims of politically motivated persecution and sending letters and parcels to political prisoners, he said.

BCD has discussed the campaign with the United Civic Party, Mr. Rymashewski said, adding that its leader, Anatol Lyabedzka, would participate in a campaign event in Babruysk on Wednesday.

BCD Executive Secretary Dzyanis Sadowski predicted that the government would put pressure on campaigners. Fortunately, there are safer forms of campaigning, such as flash mobs and the displaying of banners, he said.

"The public seems to have got used to the existence of political prisoners in Belarus," Mr. Sadowski said. "That is why there is an urgent need for a campaign in their support. The authorities are not becoming less repressive, political cases are being opened, such as the high treason case against Andrey Haydukow. Other pro-democratic activists may be arrested in a similar manner." //BelaPAN