Memory of insurrectionists 1863 honoured in Minsk (Photo)

On January 22, opposition activists marked an anniversary of the January Uprising led by Kastus Kalinouski.

Activists of the Young Christian Democrats and BPF Youth drew on snow-covered slopes “1863 – COURAGE”, “1863 – HONOUR”, “1863 – FREEDOM”, “1863 – LONG LIVE BELARUS!”. The slogans were drawn in different districts of Minsk (streets Svyardlou, Mahilouskaya, Nyamiha, Dzerzhinsky Avenue).

According to Radio Svaboda, the aim of the action was to attact attention to the values, our outstanding forefathers were struggling for, and demonstrate succession of the struggle for freedom and independence of Belarus.

We remind that Kastus Kalinouski was the leader of the national rebellion against the Tsarist regime in 1863–1864. He wanted to attract the peasants to struggle for freedom, land, and sovereignty of the people, called to establish a Belarusian government that would be independent from Russia and Poland. 56 battels and armed clashes with the Tsarist army, but the uprising was suppressed by September 1863. 128 people, including Kalinouski, were executed. Some revolts continued in 1864.