Mikalai Statkevich Met With British Ambassador And US Charge d'Affaires In Belarus

The leader of the Belarusian National Congress invited diplomats to the action which is to be held in Minsk on March 25.

One of the leaders of the Belarusian National Congress Mikalai Statkevich met with the Ambassador of Great Britain and the US Charge d'Affaires in Belarus upon their invitation, Radio Svaboda informs.

Mikalai Statkevich can not disclose the details of the meeting with the ambassadors, but he said that he told the ambassadors about the action planned for March 25 and about the intention to take all possible measures to make the protest peaceful and non-violent. Statkevich invited representatives of embassies to watch the action.

"I consider this important for two reasons, – Mikalai Statkevich said to journalists. – The Belarusian society turned out to be in such a situation when its protest is growing but it is being strangled with various brutal methods. It is clear that we are not left alone to deal with the Belarusian regime, the sympathy of the international community is on our side.

And the regime should know that it is being watched and that it can't do away with doing everything it wants, that the consequences in relations with democratic countries will follow."

Statkevich is outraged by yesterday's violent detentions: in spite of the fact that the action in Minsk was authorized and passed along the agreed route, 35-40 people were detained. Detentions took place also in Mahilyou and Hrodna.

"Despite the fact that the action was held completely within the wishes of the authorities, they brutally detained young people, – Statkevich says. – They beat up our children! If we tolerate this, then what kind of people are we? Even animals protect their offspring."

Mikalai Statkevich repeated his call to take to the streets of Minsk on Freedom Day, as "this cannot be tolerated".