Political prisoners, missing politicians remembered on March 16 in and outside Belarus

The actions of solidarity with political prisoners and the families of the disappeared politicians in Belarus took place on March 16 across Belarus. Members of the Youth Front pressure group staged a 20-minute action in front of the House of the Government in Minsk. Around 80 people gathered yesterday evening on the central October Square. The young opposition activists were holding the portraits of political prisoners -- entrepreneurs Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau, Uladzimir Asipenka and Malady Front activist Artsiom Dubski as well as the pictures of the opposition leaders Viktar Hanchar, Yury Zakharanka, Anatol Krasouski, journalist Dzmitry Zavadski who disappeared in late1990s-early 2000s. They were also holding a picture of human rights activist Yana Palyakova, who took her own life, youth activist Franak Vyachorka, Ivan SHyla and Smitser Khvedaryk who were forcefully drafted into the army as well as the pictures of those sentenced to restricted freedom in the Trial of 14 case. The action lasted for 30 minutes and ended with no detentions.

In Lida, young people unfolded pictures with the names of the missing politicians and the journalist. The picket lasted for 15 minutes.

On the central square in Salihorsk, local opposition activists held a poster saying 'Solidarity', Yana Palyakova's pictures and lit candles. Several minutes into the action, the police arrived and the action had to be stopped. No participant of the action was detained.

The Belarusian students that study in Poland under Kalinowski Program also staged solidarity actions in Lublin and Warsaw.

In Warsaw, the action of solidarity took place in front of the Belarusian embassy in. The action participants lit candles in memory of the disappeared opposition members and raised a white-red-white flag. The embassy staff was watching the action of the youth through the windows of the building, reports Charter'97