Freedom To Political Prisoners! (Video, Online)

The action demanding the release of prisoners of conscience was held in the center of Minsk.

Coordinator of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Maxim Viniarski and the Belarusian National Congress announced holding of the action.

Dozens of people with a streamer “Freedom to Political Prisoners!” and the portraits of prisoners of conscience in the “patriots case” came to the Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk.

Important to note, the delegations of the Central-European Initiative member states arrived to Minsk today.

18:38

The participants of the action have dispersed. It has been reported that some people couldn’t reach the square. The destiny of the preventively detained is being clarified.

18:37

Renown HR defender Valer Shchukin stated that the participants of the solidarity action fulfilled their mission – they raised the issue of political prisoners, and people saw the picket. According to him, it is vitally important to continue coming out to the streets.

18:34

A prisoners transportation vehicle arrived to the square.

18:31

Volha Nikalaichyk informed that the policemen wrested portraits of political prisoners from grasp, of herself and Maxim Viniarski, on the eve of the action.

18:24

Volha Nikalaichyk stated the authorities violated citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly.

18:23

A policeman approached the participants of the action, called it “a non-sanctioned event” and demanded they should disperse, threatening “to subject them to responsibility”.

18:20

Coordinator of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Maxim Viniarski , director and oppositionist Volha Nikalaichyk, “European Belarus” activist Leanid Kulakou are taking part in the action.

18:16

Activist from Babruisk Liubou Sankevich arrived to the action. She says she came to Minsk to participate in the picket near Lukashenka’s Administration.

18:15

The “European Belarus” activist Andrei Sharenda came from Brest. A criminal case for insulting Lukashenka against him was terminated a few days ago. The activist says that now he understands how the authorities fabricate political cases.

18:10

The participants of the action state that they have come out to the square to demand the release of all political prisoners in the “patriots case”.