Rally Dzyady in Minsk (ONLINE report, photo, video)

A rally on occasion of the day of commemoration of the dead – Dzyady – is held today in Minsk. The open resistance to communism started in Belarus 21 years ago with the first mass anti-Soviet demonstration in Kurapaty.

The demonstration is organized by the Conservative Christian Party BPF. Representatives of other opposition political parties and public associations are to join it.

The CCP BPF gathers participants of the rally in front of Minsk Watch Plant on Independence Avenue at 10:30 a.m.

The demonstrators will march along Independence Avenue – Kalinouski Street – Sedykh Street – Karbysheva Street – Hamarnika Street – Miroshnichenka Street. A memorial meeting is planned in Kurapaty coplex, where from 30,000 to 200,000 people were executed in years of Stalin’s repressions.

The march to Kurapaty has been permitted by the Minsk city executive committee.

2.45 p.m.

Syarhei Papkou, the deputy head of the CCP BPF, says militia didn’t allow to bring sound-amplifying equipment to Kurapaty. The meeting participants had to use a megaphone.

2.35 p.m.

A meeting is held in Kurapaty. An address of Zyanon Paznyak, the leader of the Conservative Christian party Belarusian Popular Front, who was the first who revealed the truth about Kurapaty, is read. We remind that according to different estimations, from 30,000 to 200,000 people were murdered there in the times of Stalin repressions.

2.25 p.m.

People gathered near the Cross of Suffering in Kurapaty and they sing a hymn “Mighty God”.

Photo by "Radio Svaboda"

2.20 p.m.

The participants of Dzyady rally have reached Kurapaty. They have meet there 10o people, who arrived earlier. Militia officers in uniform and in mufti are on duty there, leadership of the maim militia department of the Minsk city executive committee are also present. A meeting in Kurapaty will start in some minutes.

2.10 p.m.

Several cars and minibuses with traffic policemen were standing near Kurapaty memorial site near the trading centre “Expobel”. A car with sound amplifiers was standing there as well. However, demonstrators continue to move in an organized way, constantly chanting “Long live Belarus!” and attracting attention of the crowds of people who flock to the shopping centre on the weekend.

1.50 p.m.

The demonstrators turned to Mirashnichenka Street. The Colum will reach Kurapaty soon.

1.40 p.m.

The column has moved to the traffic way, as walking along the pavement was impossible due to a house under construction in Hamarnik Street. Militia didn’t hinder. Traffic militia blocked traffic for that time.

1.30 p.m.

People march along Hamarnik Street. Traffic policemen blocked the traffic area and gave the demonstrators a possibility to cross the street. It is a rather untypical situation during oppositional rallies in Minsk. Drivers watched with surprise a thousand people with white-red-white flags crossing the street in front of their cars.

Photo by "Radio Racyja"

1.05 p.m.

Participants march along Karbyshau Street. The column attracts attention of passers-by. Some cars beep, supporting demonstrators in this way.

12.50 p.m.

The column moves along Syadykh Street. Demonstrators are constantly chanting: “Long live Belarus!” and “We have only one way – Belarus should go to God!”

12.40 p.m.

The demonstrators continue walking along Kalinouski Street. They are shouting “We believe! We can! We’ll win!” The pavements are very narrow here, militiamen don’t allow people to walk on traffic way.

12.20 p.m.

“European Belarus» activists unfurled poster “NO to political terror!” At the moment people are moving towards the end of Independence Avenue and turn to Kalinouski Street. The column is bright with white-red-white flags and European flags.

12.00 noon

The demonstrators are passing by the National Library. There are a lot of people, pavements are not enough for walking, but militiamen force the participants of the rally not to leave the narrow footpath.

Photo by "Radio Svaboda"

11.40 a.m.

The demonstrators are near Maskouski bus station. People continue singing songs of Belarusian Revival. Militia officers in mufti accompany the column on both sides.

Photo by "Nasha Niva"

11.30 a.m.

Participants of Dzyady rally continue marching along Independence Avenue. They are passing by Belarusian Agricultural Technical University. The demonstrators are shouting “Long live Belarus”. Leader of CCP BPF Yury Belenki and daughter of repressed Belarusian poet Todar Klyashtorny Maya Klyashtornaya are leading the column.

11.20 a.m.

A column of demonstrators, more than a thousand people, is marching along Independence Avenue. People are shouting “Long live Belarus” and singing a song “Pahonya”. Demonstrators at the head of the column carry a poster “Dzyady” and wooden crosses, which will be set in Kurapaty memorial complex today.

11.15 a.m.

Participants of Dzyady rally are standing near Minsk Watch Plant, more people are coming. They are going to march along Independence Avenue. Some dozens of militia officers in mufti and some militiamen in uniform are noticed at there.

10.55 a.m.

Head of the CCP BPF Yury Belenki, youth leaders Yauhen Afnahel and Zmitser Dashkevich, head of the “For Freedom” movement Alyaksandr Milinkevich, one of the BPF leaders Vintsuk Vyachorka have come to the gathering point. More and more people are coming. There are about 1000 people here. Dozens of national white-red-white flags and flags of “European Belarus” are waving.

10.45 a.m.

People are coming. Many of them bring flower. Activists of “European Belarus” unfurled a huge banner “1937–2009”. It depicts Joseph Stalin and an NKVD officer shooting in the back of a man’s head; the other side depicts Alyaksandr Lukashenka and a riot militiaman beating a demonstrator with a club.

10.40 a.m.

Several hundreds of people have gathered in front of Minsk clock plant. White-red-white flags, flags of the civil campaign “European Belarus” and “Young Front” are fluttering. Posters with words “Let’s venerate Kurapaty victims” and “Dzyady” are carried. Among opposition leaders who are present at the rally are “European Belarus” coordinator Andrei Sannikov, as well as youth leaders Zmitser Barodka, Paval Yukhnevich, Mikola Dzemidzenka, Nasta Palazhanka.