On November 16, the March of Pensioners is taking place in downtown Minsk. Over the past months, the event has become a tradition.
However, today it got the name ‘Mourning March’, as the participants decided to pay the tribute to Raman Bandarenka and other victims of Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s regime.
Despite the fact that nearly 1,300 persons were detained during Sunday’s March of Brave People in Belarusian cities and towns, the elderly people gathered in the vicinity of Independence Square and started marching along the main avenue of the city. Students and health workers were joining them on the way.
When they were walking past Kastrychnitskaya Square, they chanted: ‘Why was Roma murdered?’ and ‘Put Lukashenka on trial!’ The column was followed by police vans and buses.
Nov 16. #Minsk now: Pensioners’ March moving along Independence Ave, chanting: ‘Put #Lukashenka on trial!’ Students, health workers joining column #Belarus #BelarusProtest Video: #Belsat pic.twitter.com/htOqTyiV1b
— Belsat in English (@Belsat_Eng) November 16, 2020
Reaching the circus building, they addressed Lukashenka: ‘Get lost and take your OMON along!’
Nov 16. #Minsk now: Participants in Pensioners’ March walking past Circus, addressing #Lukashenka: ‘Get lost and take your #OMON with you!’ #Belarus #BelarusProtest pic.twitter.com/E5EAfVTVEN
— Belsat in English (@Belsat_Eng) November 16, 2020
‘Long live Belarus’:
Nov 16. #Minsk today: #PensionersMarch reached Victory Square, chenting: ‘long live #Belarus!’ #BelarusProtest pic.twitter.com/qNN0JCF4Ob
— Belsat in English (@Belsat_Eng) November 16, 2020
At about 4 pm (local time), the protesters were singing Destroy Prison Walls in Yakub Kolas Square. Volunteers treated anyone wishing to tea.
The march ended in Yakub Kolas Square; by the moment of publishing, no detentions of its participants have been reported.