Picks of the week
Activists continue to picket a restaurant near the Minsk belt motorway, which many say infringes on the territory of a nearby mass grave of Stalin-time victims, popularly known as Kurapaty. The protesters prevent cars from entering the facility, sometimes risking their lives.
On June 27, one of the picketers, Leanid Kulakou, was run over by a SUV. The activist was taken to hospital and diagnosed with a broken arm.
Meanwhile, the protesters have already faced over a hundred charges of violating demonstrating restrictions and traffic rules.
- Activist Leanid Kulakou (right) rejoins protest in Kurapaty after receiving treatment for broken arm. Photo: nn.by
On June 27, a court in Brest sided with the administration of the Central City Hospital, who earlier fired neurologist Tatsiana Fesikava after she spoke about the dangers of lead at a protest against the construction of battery plant.
“He [head physician] said that my employment contract was void after a phone call from a “high ranker,” Fesikava said.
- Tatsiana Fesikava speaking at a rally against the construction of a battery plant in Brest. April 29, 2018. Photo: brestspring.com
On June 28, three members of the Fortinbras performing laboratory run by the Belarus Free Theatre were arrested after staging a protest in central Minsk. The protesters laid rainbow-colored flowerpots at the foot of a monument honoring a Russian empire police officer. The statue is located near the Interior Ministry’s headquarters. Reporter Andrei Shauliuha, working with the BelaPAN news agency, was also arrested.
“We call on the Ministry of the Interior to step outside of prejudices and protect the rights of LGBT people, who are not breaking the law and pay taxes, which fund the work of the Ministry,” the protesters said.
- Police officers detain activists after they stages art performance in Minsk to protest LGBT discrimination in Belarus. June 28, 2018. Photo: svaboda.org
UPD. The three protesters and the reporter were eventually fined 73.5 rubles each.
