On March 28, a Minsk court imposed a fine of 1,020 rubles on activist Alena Talstaya, who chained herself to a post during a protest rally in Kastrychnitskaya Square.
She was found guilty of violating rules of holding a mass event (Art. 23.34 of the Administrative Code).
Alena Talstaya was detained along with other politicians and activists on March 25, Belarus’ unofficial Freedom Day. They were about to walk to the building in Volodarsky Streer, where the independence of the Belarusian People’s Republic was proclaimed on March 25, 1918.
A few hours later, all detainees were released – apart from Talstaya. The woman was taken to the predetention centre, where she had to spend three days.
Freedom Day (Dzień Voli) is an unofficial holiday in Belarus, which is celebrated on March 25 to commemorate the creation on that date in 1918 of the Belarusian People’s Republic (BNR). It came into existence at the end of the First World War, when Bolshevik forces left Minsk and the city was occupied by German troops. On March 25, 1918 the Provisional Government (Rada) proclaimed the independence of the BNR. After the Red Army re-entered Minsk, the Communist government replaced the Rada; its members had to emigrate. The Lukashenka regime denies Freedom Day and often prevents the opposition forces from celebrating it.
On March 24-25, the police detained over a dozen persons who were about to celebrate the Freedom Day in Minsk. Musicians Lyavon Volski, Zmitser Waytsyushkevich, Ihar Varashkevich, Pavel Arakelyan, activists and politicians Syarhei Vasilkou, Mikalai Kazlou, Vital Rymasheuski, Yury Paleyka were released after the policemen drew protocols upon them. However, some of the detainees were placed in the predetention centre in Minsk.
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