Photo-report from action of solidarity near Belarus’ embassy in Moscow

Living in Moscow Belarusians and activists of the Russian youth movements held an action of solidarity with victims of political repressions in Belarus on 16 March.

About 30 people came to Belarus’ Embassy to require release of political prisoners and stopping of persecution of the opposition. At the end of the action a white-red-white national Belarusian flag was run up.

The participants of the picket called on authorities of Belarus to release immediately and unconditionally former candidate for presidency of Belarus Alyaksandr Kazulin, and stop criminal persecution of participants and organisers of entrepreneurs’ protests. In January they required to cancel the new rules, banning individual entrepreneurs to hire employees that are not their close relatives. As a result of this law, thousands of people lost jobs, hundreds of small enterprises were ruined. Those, who decided to come out against ruining of small business, are criminally persecuted.

Two of them – youth activist Andrei Kim and businessman Syarhei Parsyukevich, are in the pretrial detention center now, and 10 more people wrote pledges not to leave their towns. Criminal cases were fabricated against them for allegedly attack against militiamen.

People shouted “Freedom for political prisoners!”, “Luka (Lukashenka – editorial note), observe Criminal Code!”, “Belarus doesn’t hear us; Lukashenka, you are wrong!” At the end of the action a white-red-white national Belarusian flag was raised up in the air tied to balloons.

The action was guarded by 20 militiamen, a militia bus stood near, militiamen in civvies were also noticed. But the action was held in accordance to the law, no provocations were made.