“Lukashenka, You Are In For Maidan”

Charter97.org website was reporting the events at the rally online.

18:25 The meeting is over, people gradually leave Yakub Kolas Square.

18:23 One of the leaders of Belarusian entrepreneurs Ales Makaeu urges to gather on Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk on October 11 at 8 p.m. in order to express protest against the “electoral” fraud.

18:10 Opposition leaders stated that a new campaign, “Power to the People”, has been launched. Mikalai Statkevich in his speech stressed that street rallies are to continue. “There are two options for Lukashenka: either he hands over power to the people in the next few months, or the people are going to deprive him of power,” he said.

18:08 “Today together with you we have marched a little part of the path to independence. The next years are to become decisive,” Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu said.

18:05 The column reached Yakub Kolas Square, Radio Svaboda informs.

18:03 Participants of the demonstration draw parallels with the year 2010, noting that this day is the rally of opposition with the greatest number of participants since that time.

18:00 The column of demonstrators crossed Kazlou Street. All along the way the demo is accompanied by special services officers in mufti and policemen.

17:59 People are chanting “Long live Belarus”, “Glory to Ukraine”, “Sasha [Alexandr], resign”.

17:50 People are singing “Warriors of Light”, the song by Lyapis Trubetskoy rock band.

17:49 One of the rally’s organisers Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu states that than 5,000 persons are participating in the rally.

17:44 the head of the column goes down into the underground walkway in Victory Square. Some of the people cross the street violating traffic rules. A traffic policeman stops cars, “Nasha Niva” informs.

17:40 As the demonstration is marching along the avenue, new participants are joining it. There are more than 3,000 participants in the column.

17:39 Many people have come to the rally with all their families. Participants are in a festive mood. Some people in their comments to journalists say that they had not expected such a quantity of participants.

17:35 “I have come to the rally for my conscience' sake,” said a participant of the march in a T-shirt with the portrait of the presidential candidate in the elections – 2010 Andrei Sannikov.

17:31 Drivers support demonstrators by honks of their cars.

17:30 People passed Kastrychnitskaya Square. Many people make photos and selfies against the background of the demo and flags.

17:25 There are slogans in support of independence and against the Russian military base on the banners. One of the participants is carrying a poster with the portrait of Svetlana Alexievich, a Nobel Prize winner, and her quote: “I want Belarus to resemble Scandinavian countries“.

17:22 The march continues along Independence Avenue. Policemen do not hinder people, traffic policemen urge not to walk into the traffic area.

17:21 One of the participants of the rally is carrying a hand-made poster “Lukashenka, Maidan is awaiting you.”

17:20 People are walking on sidewalks. According to participants and journalists, there are more than 1,000 participants in the rally. Many people note that the number of participants is higher than at previous opposition rallies.

17:15 Participants of the rally started the demonstration along Lenin Street in the direction of Independence Avenue.

17:12 Anatol Lyabedzka urged to defend “the territory of freedom, regained from the regime.” The leader of the United Civil Party informed about a press-conference planned for Monday, October 12.

17:10 “It is a moral demonstration. Candidates do not urge people to come to the square, they urge to come to polling stations. They are barkers,” Mikalai Statkevich said.

17:07 Flags of European Belarus civil campaign, oppositional parties and organisations are unfurled.

17:05 “Lukashenka has turned out country into his privately-operated enterprise and controls the entire society. There is almost no choice left for people. After the elections we are to face the most difficult time,” Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu said. “The society is intimidated by the state propaganda. Most of the people do not have heads, they have TV-sets on their shoulders. You see what a small number of people participate in rallies. People are intimidated.”

17:04 Among the politicians there are Mikalai Statkevich, Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu, Anatol Lyabedzka.

17:01 Policemen do not interfere with protesters’ assembling.

17:00 Participants of the rally are gathering in Freedom Square. First national flags are seen.

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“March of the National Flag” is to walk down the streets of the capital of Belarus on the eve of the “elections.” Opposition leaders have called to come to the rally with white-red-white flags, symbols, ribbons, creative posters and in vyshyvankas (embroidered shirts).