Statkevich Informs Authorities About Action On May 1

The action will start at 14.00 on Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk.

Mikalai Statkevich, one of the leaders of the Belarusian National Congress, sent a statement to the Minsk City Executive Committee, wherein he announced that a festive meeting would be held on Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk on May 1, Radio Svaboda reports.

"In accordance with the rights guaranteed by Article 35 of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus and international agreements signed by our country, I announce the intention of the Belarusian National Congress to join the celebration of the state holiday - Labor Day on May 1, and to hold a festive meeting on Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk," – the statement says.

According to Statkevich, the action is to start at 2 p.m.

"There is no legally elected parliament in Belarus and, accordingly, there's no a legitimate procedure for the implementation of the constitutional right to freedom of rallies and demonstrations. Therefore, in accordance with the practice adopted in neighboring countries, I report on our intention to hold a festive meeting on May 1, 5 days before its inception.

I suggest that the authorities should fulfill the requirements of the Constitution and ensure unimpeded and safe conduct of the action," – Mikalai Statkevich wrote.

Mikalai Statkevich informed earlier, that the BNC would hold its rally on Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk on May 1.

It became known today, that the Minsk City Executive Committee allowed to hold the rally on the stage in the Peoples' Friendship Park on May 1. However, it banned to make a procession from the Academy of Sciences to Bangalore Square, which was ordered by independent democratic trade unions.