Young Front collecting signatures to recognize Belarus white-red-white flag cultural treasure

Thoughout the month the activists of opposition organization Young Front will be collecting signatures under a petition on granting the status of non-material historical and cultural value to the white-red-white flag.

The beginning of the collection of signatures was announced on 19 September after the action devoted to the national symbols of Belarusians in Minsk.

Prominent Belarusian actor and director Pavel Harlanchuk was the first to sign the petition to the Ministry of Culture, the press service of the organization says.

Zmitser Dashkevich, a leader of Young Front, is set to collect signatures every day, except Sunday. “I count on having no less than 1,000 signatures, it is feasible. After I finish work, I stand at the exit of Kupalauskaya metro station in the direction of Tsentralny store, and every hour about twenty people put their signatires. Other activists are joining the campaign, and each of them also expresses readiness collect 1,000 signatures. It is expected that in a month we will file [the petition with] signatures to the Ministry of Culture,” Dashkevich said.

On Monday Young Front  celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Pahonya symbol and a white-red-white flag gaining the status of state symbols.

On 19 September 1991, the white-red-white flag and emplem Pahonya (Pursuit) was officially recognized state symbols of the Republic of Belarus. Such resolution was passed by the Supreme Soviet of the 12th convocation after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

But after the 1995 referendum, they were replaced by those reminiscent of Soviet symbolism.

Belsat.eu