Minsk: Activists detained for distributing invitations to authorised Freedom Day concert


Representatives of the Youth of the Belarusian People’s Front (BPF) have run into an unexpected issue with the police.

“In Minsk, activists of the BPF Youth have been detained for handing out invitations to the event which was officially authorised by Minsk City Executive Committee,” activist Yury Lukashevich said on Facebook.

A number of festive events are scheduled for Sunday on the occasion of the upcoming 100th anniversary of the proclamation of Belarus’ nationhood.

In late February, Minsk authorities allowed to hold a Freedom Day concert and a rally next to the Opera and Ballet Theatre, but banned the applicants from marching. However, several politicians submitted another application for holding a march on the occasion at Minsk city executive committee, but failed to give any approval.

As reported earlier, the authorities started to preventively detain politicians who were about to hold a march on March 25, Belarus’ unofficial Freedom Day.

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March 25, 2018 will be the 100th anniversary of the proclamation 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. For many years, Lukashenka regime has been slamming and even persecuting those who pay the tribute to the BNR.

НМ, belsat.eu

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