Viktar Ivashkevich: Belarusian ruler will have to answer in Prague for how Chernobyl Way was held

Organizers of Chernobyl Way rally call on the Belarusians to gather near the Academy of Sciences with national white-red-white flags at noon on April 26.

The deputy head of the Belarusian Popular Front party and one of the organizers of Chernobyl Way told at a press conference about the details of the rally.

“The organizers of Chernobyl Way decided to hold the rally on the planned route: Academy of Sciences–Independence Avenue–Yakub Kolas Street–Vera Kharuzhaya Street– Kulman Street– Chernobyl Chapel. As the goal of the action is demonstration, an offer of the authorities go hold the rally along Surghanau Street, which is now repaired, is pointless. Militia has already warned us against public disorder. The organizers say they won’t allow any disorder during Chernobyl Way,” Viktar Ivashkevich told.

It is planned that participants will gather in front of the Academy of Sciences from 12.00 noon to 1.00 p.m. April 26.

“It was permitted by the Minsk city executive committee, so it’s legal. I call on people to come with flags, posters and other symbols that would reflect their attitude to the Chernobyl disaster. Then we will form a human chain, one person with a poster in a row, the length of the chain depends on the number of people,” the organizer of Chernobyl Way said.

According to him, this action won’t hinder other people in the street.

“This format of action can’t hinder passers-by, visitor of Kamaroski Market and sellers in fruit stalls, if the authorities don’t hinder themselves.

Besides, this route allows passers-by to learn more about Chernobyl Way and allow us to inform people about the Chernobyl problem and constructing a nuclear power plant in the country. I hope the authorities won’t impede us to have our constitutional right. They can’t forbid us walking down the street!” the BPF deputy head noted.

“All members of the organizing committee said they didn’t want confrontations with militia and won’t do it,” he stressed.

Viktar Ivashkevich also noted he didn’t expect the rally would attract less people than previous ones, because April 26–28 are official days-off.

“We can’t satisfy everybody. Someone will leave the city for three days. It’s warm for some people and they go to the country. It’s cold for the others and they don’t go out. There are no ideal conditions for demonstrations. There is a desire of people to go to a rally,” Viktar Ivashkevich told.

According to the BPF deputy head, participant of Chernobyl Way will behave in an organized way.

“All organized groups, including the youth, consented to follow the agreed route. So, we don’t expect anybody can go in the opposite direction. What concerns certain people, they have the right to walk wherever they want,” Viktar Ivashkevich explained.

As the organizer of the demonstrator thinks, additional talks with militia are not needed to hold Chernobyl Way.

“This is beyond their scope. One case is manifestation, when participants block the traffic. Another case is when thousands of people with posters walk one by one, they don’t hinder other people. This demonstration can’t do any harm to anybody, expect for some officials who are irritated with the fact the protesters with posters,” Viktar Ivashkevich told.

The organizers of Chernobyl Way urge not to yield to possible provocations of the Belarusian secret services.

“If there are such attempts by militia, we won’t go close to them, we will walk round them. I can’t say in what direction, it depends on the place the cordon will be standing. It is an authorized action, so, the authorities will be responsible for provocations by militia. The officials who will talk with Alyaksandr Lukashenka will be informed about the rally. I think mentions about these shields will ‘help’ him to have negotiations,” the politician said.