14:11 Belarus intellectuals call not to use force on March 25

A group of Belarusian intellectuals has called on the authorities in Minsk not to use force against the citizens on March 25. On this day, an all-out street action is expected to take place in the Belarusian capital to mark an anniversary of the state independence of the Belarusian Popular Republic.

«This day is being celebrated as a national holiday by everyone who holds dear its Fatherland and its history», says a letter signed by Genadz Buraukin, Aliaksej Marackin, Radzim Harecki, Aliaksandr Vajtovic and other prominent public figures.

The intellectuals have called on the government "to avoid clashes between the police and the citizens who are to come out to the streets and squares across the country to pay honor to our statehood", reports pbnf.org