Freedom Day demonstration in Minsk
Demonstrators begin to disperse. A considerable number of people
amassed in front of the Academy of Sciences building. They talk, sing
songs and chant slogans.
19.30. Demonstrators have formed a chain along Independence Avenue. People are chanting "Long Live Belarus!" and "Independence!" Some demonstrators are burning images of Belarusian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
19.15. Police in riot gear have stopped demonstrators close to Petrus Brouka Street. Road police officers have prevented them from taking to the carriageway. Youths have returned to the Academy of Sciences to join others.
19.00. Demonstrators have split. Some youths are headed for the Kastrychnitskaya Square. But riot police are preparing to block the street outside the Central Department Store. Another group are headed for the National Library. Demonstrators are waving white-red-white national flags and chanting "Long Live Belarus!"
18.50. A rally continues in front of the Academy of Sciences building. Viktar Ivashkevich has announced that the organizers have decided against marching to Bangalore or Kastrychnitskaya Square. He has urged the demonstrators to form a chain along Independence Avenue.
18.45. The rally continues in front of the Academy of Sciences building. The speakers included Lyavon Barshcheuski, Mikola Statkevich and Pavel Sevyarynets.
18.40. Our correspondent reports that Lyavon Barshcheuski, leader of the Belarusian Popular Front, said that the crowd is to big to follow the authorities-designated route. Mikola Statkevich said that it makes no sense to celebrate Freedom Day on Bangalore Square designated by the city government. Pavel Sevyarynets is speaking.
18.26. About 100 people laid flowers outside the Local History Museum in Mahilyou, where the Belarusian National Committee backed the BNR in 1918.
18.25. People filled the square in front of the Academy of Sciences building. Organizers have brought speakers. Music is playing, no speeches have been made yet.
18:21. Riot police have been brought to Minsk from Homyel.
18.17. About 2,000 people gathered outside the Academy of Sciences building. People are trickling in. Demonstrators are waving flags of Narodnaya Hramada, European Belarus, Maladaya Belarus and Moladz BPF. Most of those present are young people.
18:12. Ten minutes before the demonstration police seized loudspeakers but later returned the equipment to the organizers.
18.00. The participants are supposed to assemble at 6p.m. outside the Academy of Sciences building. There are between 1,000 and 1,500 people at the plaza. Among those present are Pavel Sevyarynets and Anatol Lyabedzka. Few police officers are present at the scene.
***
On March 25, 1918 the Council of the Belarusian People's Republic passed the Third Founding Charter to declare Belarus a free and independent state.
The tradition of celebrations dates back to 1920s. However, this day was not marked publicly in the Soviet Belarus. The changes came in 1980s-90s when the Freedom Day started to be celebrated by mass street rallies and open-air concerts.
Today's street action is organized by the Party of the Popular Front. Members of the public are invited to gather near the building of the Academy of Sciences at 6 p.m..
Photo - bymedia.net
19.30. Demonstrators have formed a chain along Independence Avenue. People are chanting "Long Live Belarus!" and "Independence!" Some demonstrators are burning images of Belarusian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
19.15. Police in riot gear have stopped demonstrators close to Petrus Brouka Street. Road police officers have prevented them from taking to the carriageway. Youths have returned to the Academy of Sciences to join others.
19.00. Demonstrators have split. Some youths are headed for the Kastrychnitskaya Square. But riot police are preparing to block the street outside the Central Department Store. Another group are headed for the National Library. Demonstrators are waving white-red-white national flags and chanting "Long Live Belarus!"
18.50. A rally continues in front of the Academy of Sciences building. Viktar Ivashkevich has announced that the organizers have decided against marching to Bangalore or Kastrychnitskaya Square. He has urged the demonstrators to form a chain along Independence Avenue.
18.45. The rally continues in front of the Academy of Sciences building. The speakers included Lyavon Barshcheuski, Mikola Statkevich and Pavel Sevyarynets.
18.40. Our correspondent reports that Lyavon Barshcheuski, leader of the Belarusian Popular Front, said that the crowd is to big to follow the authorities-designated route. Mikola Statkevich said that it makes no sense to celebrate Freedom Day on Bangalore Square designated by the city government. Pavel Sevyarynets is speaking.
18.26. About 100 people laid flowers outside the Local History Museum in Mahilyou, where the Belarusian National Committee backed the BNR in 1918.
18.25. People filled the square in front of the Academy of Sciences building. Organizers have brought speakers. Music is playing, no speeches have been made yet.
18:21. Riot police have been brought to Minsk from Homyel.
18.17. About 2,000 people gathered outside the Academy of Sciences building. People are trickling in. Demonstrators are waving flags of Narodnaya Hramada, European Belarus, Maladaya Belarus and Moladz BPF. Most of those present are young people.
18:12. Ten minutes before the demonstration police seized loudspeakers but later returned the equipment to the organizers.
18.00. The participants are supposed to assemble at 6p.m. outside the Academy of Sciences building. There are between 1,000 and 1,500 people at the plaza. Among those present are Pavel Sevyarynets and Anatol Lyabedzka. Few police officers are present at the scene.
***
On March 25, 1918 the Council of the Belarusian People's Republic passed the Third Founding Charter to declare Belarus a free and independent state.
The tradition of celebrations dates back to 1920s. However, this day was not marked publicly in the Soviet Belarus. The changes came in 1980s-90s when the Freedom Day started to be celebrated by mass street rallies and open-air concerts.
Today's street action is organized by the Party of the Popular Front. Members of the public are invited to gather near the building of the Academy of Sciences at 6 p.m..
Photo - bymedia.net
