Young People Demand: “Belarus to Europe!”

Today, on St. Valentine’s Day, activists of the Young Front organization traditionally organize a street rally.

Young Front members call upon all everyone to join the rally on the holiday. The march will start at 5 p.m. on Freedom Square. Young people will visit Embassies of the countries of the EU and the US. The annual rally is always accompanied by arrests. Despite of that, the number of the rally’s participants grows with every year.

On February 11 Young Front members received an answer from Minsk city executive committee to their request to issue permission for holding the rally. City officials said no, referring to the fact that the rally would interfere with “busy traffic”.

Today’s rally, like previous ones, is held under the slogan: “Belarus to Europe!”

“Despite of the ban of the authorities, the Young Front does not hesitate in its decision, as February 14 is the Day of Love. We, Young Front members, have a chance to express our love to our friends, our country, our language, to express out love and open our hearts to Belarus, to our Lord, to tell all people living in our country, what is going on here, and what we are going to do to improve our life in the future,” said a young activist Nasta Palazhanka to Radio Svaboda.

At 6 p.m. in the framework of the celebration an action “Burning Hearts” will start simultaneously in several cities. Burning hearts, or circles resembling EU flag, will be created by participants of the rally from candles, lighters, flashlights or Bengal lights.

Today’s rally will launch the three-month marathon in other cities of Belarus. Young people will hold quizzes, competitions finding out what European traits exist in this or that city or town. National flags and EU flags are to appear in all parts of Belarus.