Freedom Day Celebration to Start at 12 a.m. on 25 March in Kalinouski Square

Source: www.charter97.org

The Celebration of the Day of Freedom is to be held in Kalinouski (Kastrychnitskaia) Square in Minsk at 12 a.m. on 25 March. This was announced today at the press- conference by members of the organization committee on celebration of the Day of Freedom: leader of the democratic forces of Belarus Aliaksandr Milinkevich, the chairman of the BPF Party Vintsuk Viachorka, the deputy chairman of the Belarusian Social-Democratic Party (Hramada) Ales Straltsou and the deputy chairman of the United Civil Party Ihar Shynkaryk. ‘On 25 March the Belarusian people are going to support the independence of Belarus and declare the necessity of democratic changes in our country .We support the propositions of the European Union to the authorities and the people and repeat that they are to become reality in case the steps towards democracy are made. Among these steps is the official permission for celebration of the Day of Freedom in the center of the capital. We hope that the authorities will not prevent people from gathering in the square,’ this is how the declaration of the organization committee runs.

’On 25 March we will come to Kalinouski Square because we ought to be there. I am sure, the Day of Freedom will become the state holiday, and so, we offered the authorities to celebrate it together. The Belarusian authorities have to understand today that in the situation of evident crises in the country we have to look for mutual understanding for preserving the independence of the country. I call everybody to come to Kalinouski Square .It is going to be an exclusively peaceful action, a celebration of the Day of Freedom”, leader of the democratic forces of Belarus Aliaksandr Milinkevich stated at the press-conference.

The deputy chairman of Belarusian Social-Democratic Party (Hramada) Ales Straltsou announced that on 25 March the democrats would not go to Bangalore Square where the authorities suggested holding the meeting. ‘On 25 March we will come to the Kalinouski Square. Nobody is going to Bangalore Square. After the last year’s achievements it is impossible,’ Ales Straltsou said.

The deputy chairman of the United Civil Party Ihar Shynkaryk mentioned the general conditions put forward by the European Union for implementation in Belarus as the basis for receiving the European economic assistance. Among those are the release of political prisoners, provision of freedom of word and meetings.

The BPF chairman Vintsuk Viachorka stressed that the decision on coming to the Kalinouski Square was supported by all the democratic forces in the country.

’It is our common standpoint to come to the Kalinouski Square on 25 March. Nowadays the country can get substantial assistance from the European Union but in return the authorities have to make certain and evident steps towards democracy. The Belarusian society ought to get united by such values as freedom and independence. And 25 March is giving such possibility,’ Vintsuk Viachorka declared.