Street Rally “Return Power To People” To Start At 6 P.M. Today In Freedom Square In Minsk

20 years ago, Lukashenka conducted a state take-over using the illegal “referendum”.

The referendum of November 24, 1996 was held upon Lukashenka’s initiative. As a result thereof, the Constitution was amended so that Lukashenka’s authorizations were prolonged for another two and a half years, among the other things. The “referendum” results were not recognized by the international community, the European Union, the United States, the OSCE and other respectable international structures.

A peaceful action under the slogan “Return Power to the People!” starts at 6 p.m. today in the Freedom Square in Minsk.

The decision to hold the action was taken by the Council of the Belarusian National Congress in September and confirmed in October this year.

Leader of the Belarusian opposition, presidential candidate at the election-2010 Mikalai Statkevich and Belarusian poet and politician Uladzimir Niakliaeu have notified the Minsk city executive committee about the planned action.

“This is not an application for holding a mass event, which should be submitted 15 days before the actual date, this is a notification. There is no legitimate legislation with regard to holding mass actions in Belarus. The acting laws severely violate the constitutional rights of the citizens and do not comply with the international obligations of the Republic of Belarus,” – this is how Mikalai Statkevich has commented upon their decision to just notify the Minsk city executive committee.

“We hereby notify the authorities that we will imply our constitutional right to freedom of gatherings on November 24 in the Freedom Square, where we will hold a demonstration dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the coup, the black date of the Belarusian history,” – Statkevich has noted.

“A peaceful action demanding to return power to the people will take place in the freedom Square in Minsk at 6 p.m. on November 24. I don’t think the authorities will dare to take any radical measures: Lukashenka simply has no money. This economic and political model has bankrupted, so he has to beg around out there in the world. So, te authorities will just have to grit their teeth and watch our protest. There’s no point in being scared of them, and there is nothing to be scared at all: if we take a look at what the future has in store for us, it’s just one conclusion we can make – it’s time to go out and protest,” – Mikalai Statkevich has said in an interview to the charter97.org website.