Belarusians demand release of political prisoners (Photo, Video)

A peaceful rally with a demand to release political prisoners and stop crackdown on opposition was held on March 12 on October Square in Minsk.

At 6 p.m. more than 100 persons, including activists of activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus”, “Young Front”, the Belarusian Popular Front party, “Young Belarus”, “Belarusian Christian democracy party, gathered on October Square in Minsk.

Participants held portraits of political prisoners: recently arrested leaders of entrepreneurs from Vaukavysk Mikalay Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau and Uladzimir Asipenka, an activist of the “Young Front” Artsyom Dubski and a human rights watchdog Yana Palyakova who committed suicide after a 2.5 year sentence was passed on her.

Well-known persons of Belarus came to the square: activists of the “European Belarus” Yauhen Afnagel, Zmitser Barodka, Paval Yukhnevich, “Young Front” leader Zmitser Dashkevich, chairman of the Belarusian People’s Front party Lyavon Barshcheuski, “Young Belarus” leader Artur Finkevich, co-chairman of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party Paval Sevyarynets, chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic party (Narodnaya Hramada) Mikola Statkevich, a former political prisoner, an activist of “European Belarus” Alyaksandr Barazenka, and ordinary Minsk dwellers.

The rally lasted 40 minutes. Almost all the time protesters were scanning “Freedom to political prisoners!”, “Long live Belarus”, “We demand to stop political terror!” Two large streamers “Freedom to political prisoners!” and a flag of the European Union were unfurled. An activist of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Yauhen Afnagel read out a statement addressed to the leadership of the European Union:

“On October 13 last year the Council of the European Union has suspended visa sanctions against high Belarusian officials and adopted a decision to renew political contacts with the official Minsk. Certain conditions had been named which fulfillment could make cooperation of the EU and Belarus possible. Firstly, it is absence of political prisoners, democratization of the electoral legislation, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. 5 months have passed since this decision’s adoption, but we see that the situation hasn’t changed. None of the requirements of the European Union have been fulfilled. Repressions against the opposition haven’t stopped, but on the contrary have intensified. Political prisoners still exist in Belarus, and we demand their immediate release!”

Several dozens of policemen and riot policemen in mufti observed the protesters. Everything was videoed. Chief officers of the chief directorate of the Internal Affairs of Minks City Executive Committee was on the square as well.

Policemen tried to make people leave the square, saying via a megaphone that the rally of peacefully standing people with portraits of political prisoners were holding “unsanctioned rally” and physical force might be used against them. However this time, unlike the rallies on February 14 and 16, the oppositional rally wasn’t disbanded.

“This shows once again that the opposition organizes exceptionally peaceful rallies. And when policemen stage no provocations, do not disband people and brutally beat them up, rallies have a peaceful and civilized form. We have come to the square to demonstrate that out voice is extremely important, we want to show the world community that there still are political prisoners in Belarus, and that we should fight for freedom,” Yauhen Afnagel said in an interview to the Charter’97.

In the end of the rally young leaders called upon Minsk dwellers to come to October Square in Minsk on the Day of Solidarity March 16 at 8 p.m. to demand immediate release of prisoners of conscience.