Sunday’s march: Belarusians demand to release political prisoners
04.10.202012:08
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On the 57th day of protests against vote rigging and police brutality in Belarus, the marches called ‘For Release of Political Prisoners’ kicked off at 2 pm in Belarusian cities and towns.
Since the start of the presidential campaign, the number of political prisoners in Belarus has risen from 3 to 77.
On Sunday morning, Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya expressed her support for the protesters:
“Each of you takes part in protesting for the sake of your own freedom. But today a march for the freedom of political prisoners is to take place. There are people who, like Syarhei Tsikhanouski, have not seen their families for several months. There are people who have suffered and are still suffering for their beliefs. And our mission is to release them. So I support everyone who takes to the streets of their city today. Let the whole world see that the Belarusian people want to be at liberty, not in prison.”
In her statement, Tsikhanouskaya also made mention of Dzyanis Kuznyatsou, who died after being kept in the notorious detention centre in Akrestsin Street.
“It is terrible that people die, that they are murdered in jails. It is terrible that their deaths are covered with blatant lies. It is terrible that there are lots of people who have been thrown into prisons over their daring to fight for freedom,” she said.
The Interior Ministry announced heavy security presence due to ‘the opposition’s plans to carry out illegal rallies’.
There were military armoured vehicles and water cannons near Minsk Hero City Stele; APCs were parked in the vicinity of Independence Palace (one of Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s residences); paddy wagons were spotted in the city centre, near Yanka Kupala National Theatre. Several central metro stations, including Victory Square, Kastrychnitskaya, Lenin Square, as well as many shops and malls were closed off in the run-up to Sunday’s march.
(UPD) By various estimates, more than 100,000 persons might have taken part in today’s march in Minsk. As of 11.30 pm, there have been 220 detention cases throughout Belarus, human rights centre Viasna reports. The list of detainees is being updated; some of them were released.
Our reporter happened to be a metre away from the water cannon that arrive to disperse Belarusians demanding freedom for political prisoners in Minsk. He managed to film several protesters ‘neutralising’ the special vehicle, i.e. taking paint containers out of it. Suddenly, the water cannon turned into a kind of city fountain and drove off.
Today, a column of protesters reached the detention centre in Akrestsin Street; they staged a picket there, chanting: “Release!”, “Freedom to political prisoners!” Some of them left makeshift messages to the jailers, fixing photos of alleged protest victims Mikita Kryutsou, Kanstantsin Shyshmakou, Dzyanis Kuznyatsou on the entrance plate:
Entrance plate at prison in Akrestsin Street. Minsk, 4 October 2020.
Photo: Belsat.eu
‘Fascists!’ Inscription on fence near prison in Akrestsin Street. Minsk, 4 October 2020.
Photo: Belsat.eu
Protesters near prison in Akrestsin Street in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: belsat.eu
Protesters near prison in Akrestsin Street in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: belsat.eu
Protesters near prison in Akrestsin Street in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: belsat.eu
More photos of Sunday’s march in Minsk:
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu
White-red-white flag under riot policeman’s feet. March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu
‘Brave journalism for free people.’ March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu
Special vehicles in Minsk streets. March for Release of Political Prisoners. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu
Special vehicles in Minsk streets. March for Release of Political Prisoners. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu / Vot Tak TV
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu / Vot Tak TV
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu / Vot Tak TV
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu / Vot Tak TV
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu / Vot Tak TV
‘People stand together with athletes!’ March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu / Vot Tak TV
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu / Vot Tak TV
«Марш вызвалення» ў Менску. 4 кастрычніка 2020 года. Фота: ТК / belsat.eu / Vot Tak TV
‘One mistake and you are mistaken’. March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu / Vot Tak TV
‘people stand together with [imprisoned blogger] Eduard Palchys.’ March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu / Vot Tak TV
‘Freedom to political prisoners!’ March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu / Vot Tak TV
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu / Vot Tak TV
‘Freedom to Maksim Znak!’ March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu / Vot Tak TV
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu/ Vot Tak TV
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: belsat.eu
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu / Vot Tak TV
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu / Vot Tak TV
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: TK / belsat.eu / Vot Tak TV
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: belsat.eu
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: belsat.eu
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: belsat.eu
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: belsat.eu
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: belsat.eu
‘Lord frees prisoners.’ March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: belsat.eu
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: belsat.eu
Detentions in vicinity of Akrestsin Street. March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: belsat.eu
Detentions in vicinity of Akrestsin Street. March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: belsat.eu
Detentions in vicinity of Akrestsin Street. March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: belsat.eu
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: belsat.eu
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: belsat.eu
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: belsat.eu
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: belsat.eu
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: belsat.eu
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: belsat.eu
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: belsat.eu
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
Photo: belsat.eu
March for Release of Political Prisoners in Minsk. 4 October 2020.
