Sunday March In Minsk Breaks Stereotype Again

The traditional action surprised with mobilization activity and a new route.

Despite the preventive detentions and bad weather, the Sunday march in Minsk gathered about 100,000 people and confused the security forces, thinktanks.by writes.

The traditional protest action, which took place in Minsk on September 27, surprised with mobilization activity and a new route.

This time, the security forces, determined to carry out preventive detentions, were content with little. If the police had plans to disperse and neutralize the protesters in the outskirts of Peramozhtsau Avenue, they were unsuccessful. Preliminary detentions were few. But near the Heroes Obelisk, thousands of people showed up literally in half an hour and from there, they organized themselves in a single column, and began a march.

The route of the column of protesters was unexpected for the protesters themselves: Masherau Avenue-Bahdanovich Street-Surganau Street-Independence Avenue. The total length of the route of the protest action was 12 km. On the way, the column stretched for several kilometers.

The protest march ended in Uruchcha.

The innovations in the protesters’ tactics that were demonstrated on September 27:

1. Fast gathering. People do not march in columns with flags to the center, becoming easy prey for the security forces, but come to the gathering area by private and public transport. As a result, the protesters are not cut off at the approaches to the gathering place. The effectiveness of this tactic was demonstrated on September 20.

2. Strengthening solidity. The column of protesters has become more organized. The head of the column often stopped, not allowing the protesters to stretch out on the route. As a result, the density of protesters has increased and the ability to disperse people has decreased.

3. The unexpectedness of the route. If on September 20 the route of the Sunday protest was chaotic, now it is unexpected. Such a route forces the law-enforcement agencies to pull forces to other directions, and constantly move in accordance with the changes in the route of the column.