Pro-Democratic Activists Mark Day of Solidarity with Families of the Disappeared and Political Prisoners
This time the activists plan to light candles and post portraits of the disappeared Yury Zakharanka, Viktar Hanchar, Anatol Krasouski, and Dzmitry Zavadski on the streets of different cities. Actions of solidarity in different formats are traditionally held in Belarus and abroad on the 16th of each month, starting with October 16, 2005, reports RFE/RL.
Young people decided not to hold a mass street action that time, in order to avoid mass arrests and detentions before the Freedom Day on the 25th. However, they will still express solidarity, but in a different format. Earlier solidarity actions were held in the formal of “living chains” of people, or were limited to hanging banners and lighting candles in front of the portraits of the disappeared and the political prisoners.
This time the activists extend the circle of people, with whom they want to express solidarity on the 16th of every month.
Ales Kalita, chairman of BPF youth, says:
“This is the Day of solidarity with the committed people who were repressed by the authorities: this is solidarity with the writers, who were deprived of their Union’s building, and with young people, who face politically-motivated criminal charges; with teachers who are not allowed to teach, and with students of Belarusian Humanities Lyceum which is operating underground; -- with the whole Belarusian society, which despite repression, continues to fight for freedom and democracy in our Belarus”.
Students who study abroad, will light the candles in front of the Belarusian Embassies. Actions of Solidarity are to take place in Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Ukraine, and Poland. The passers-by will receive information flyers about the situation in Belarus.
