Mikalai Statkevich: I Was Impressed By People’s Determination

The BNC leader has told how dozens of thousands protesters in the streets of Minsk saved Belarus.

Leader of the Belarusian National Congress Mikalai Statkevich, with the website palitviazni.info, recalls the March of Freedom, which happened twenty years ago, and ended in the clashes between the protesters and the police, as well as the events after the “referendum” on October 17, 2004.

On October 17, 1999, the Freedom March was held in Minsk, which ended with clashes between the protesters and the police, joined by internal troops. Numerous arrests followed.

Also, on October 17, 2004, a “referendum” was held, as a result of which the term of the presidential powers actually became unlimited. On the following day, the Belarusian opposition organized a protest rally.

“This date is very important for both my personal life and social activities,” says Mikalai Statkevich. “Two events are associated with this date. First, on October 17, 1999, the Freedom March was held, when the Belarusian authorities were ready to hand out our country to Russia. At the same time, abductions and killings of famous Belarusian politicians took place.

The Freedom March put an end to all this. Dozens of thousands people took to the streets of Minsk. Then I was impressed by the people’s determination - they could not be scared. If the road was blocked by riot police, they broke through. If the policemen attacked from behind, the people took what was under their feet. There were dozens of wounded from different parties.

The result of the action was that political abductions stopped in the country, and active independence sale was terminated. I got a criminal case, but I left the remand prison in Valadarski Street after two weeks of hunger strike.

- As far as we know, the case was eventually terminated …

- On the eve of the OSCE summit, the Belarusian ruler was set a condition - my release. And he released me.

However, the authorities anyway sentenced me to 3-year liberty restriction for the rally that took place after the referendum on October 17, 2004.

I don’t regret anything. I accept everything and would not change anything. I am proud. And I say many thanks to the people who were saving Belarus at that time.