Heroes Of Spring Protest Marches Awarded In Vorsha

Participants of the marches of non-parasites have received special diplomas.

The Assembly of Non-Governmental Democratic Organizations called the marches of non-parasites, held in Vorsha, Slonim and Homel last year, the winners in the category "Regional Event of the Year". Vorsha activists, having received the diploma of " Civil Society Champions," decided to award all local participants of those events in the same way, Radio Svaboda informs.

On January 17, the first stage of the awarding took place: participants of the Vorsha march of non-parasites were invited to the office of the independent REP trade union, and diplomas were awarded to those who responded to the invitation posted on the orsha.eu website.

Personal diplomas are copies of the diploma received by Vorsha democratic forces representatives at the ceremony in Minsk on December 21, Vasil Berasneu, a BHC representative in Vorsha, explains.

"Up to two thousand people took part in the march of non-parasites – Vorsha residents, people from Dubrouna and Horki districts. They are brave, courageous people who were not afraid to go out to protest against Decree No. 3. Each of the participants in march of non-parasites is, of course, an activist, since such a person has an active social position," – Vasil Berasneu says.

According to Berasneu, who has handed in the diplomas, such ceremonies will be held twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, at 11 o'clock.

"Although Decree No. 3 is now suspended, it is being reviewed, nothing has changed with employment in Vorsha. Although Lukashenka has claimed he would raise Vorsha district "from ruins and ashes", today Vorsha is the second city after Maladzechna, where there are greatest problems with employment," – Viktar Kireyeu, a participant of the Vorsha march of non-parasites, says.

Unemployed Hanna Aheyankava has told us her story, typical of Vorsha. The woman has a higher education, used to work as an economist, but was made redundant. Since then, she has not been able to get a job for seven years, so she joined the march of non-parasites.

Events in Vorsha on March 12 last year showed how much local residents are dissatisfied with the situation. Two rallies took place on that day: in the central square and near the district executive committee, to which the participants walked in a large column. About a dozen local activists were convicted for participating in an unsanctioned rally. Independent journalists also suffered, including the Radio Svaboda journalist Halina Abakunchyk, who spent a day in a temporary detention facility and then was fined.