Billboards with activists removed from Minsk streets after three hours

Photo: Pavel Belavus’ Facebook
Photo: Pavel Belavus’ Facebook

The billboards with poet and opposition activist Uladzimir Nyaklyayeu and popular TV personality and artist Yury Zhyhimont advertising Symbal.by, the Minsk-based shop selling Belarusian ethnically marked merchandise, remained only for a few hours in the streets of the Belarusian capital city, Symbal.by owner Pavel Belavus wrote in social media.

"They did not warn us. I phoned the advertising company we had a contract with and they said that higher officials had ordered to remove the billboards. We do not know whether the other billboards [with popular musician Lyavon Volski and world gymnastics champion Melitina Stanyuta that also promote the Belarusian cause] will be installed tomorrow,” the activist wrote.

Belavus said he knew no other details.