Belarusians on European March! (ON-LINE REPORT)

Thousands and thousands of Belarusians were moving with the European March along Nezalezhnasti Avenue in Minsk. Belarusians came out to the peaceful action to support the well-known 12 proposals of the EU and demonstrate their desire to live in European and free country. Today a great amount of European and Belarusian national flags are waving in the Minsk center. People were carrying transparents “12 EU proposals – into action!”. Soon a big summary report from the European March will appear on our site. On-line report from the European March can ne read HERE.

18.00

The European March is finished. Groups of people under the European flags go on moving in the Minsk center, but it is clear that the main part of the event has ended.

4: 50 p.m.

The European March organizing committee head Viktar Ivashkevich declared that there won’t be a meeting in the Park of Peoples’ Friendship, as the militia has arrested the equipment on the way. But the people are staying in the park. Meanwhile, the column of the youth has gone on their march and is moving now along Bahdanovich Street.

4:32 p.m.

Two columns of demonstrants have joined in the Park of Peoples’ Friendship. The total amount of the European March participants makes up 7-10 thousands people. Belarusians are carrying 40-meters EU flag in their hands, the white-red-white and the EU flags are waving. The people are scanning loudly “Belarus to Europe!”. The car drivers are greeting the demonstrants with the honks, the people living in the neighboring houses are spilling into the streets.

4:00 p.m.

The column of the youth which was moving along Nezalezhnasti Avenue has turned to Surhanau Street and is moving to the Park of Peoples’ Friendship to join another several thousands column of the European March participants.

3: 55 p.m.

The column of about 4-5 thousands demonstrates is moving along the traffic way of Surhanau Street to the Park of Peoples’ Friendship. At the column’s head is the European March organizing committee head Viktar Ivashkevich, the people are scanning “Long live Belarus!”, “Freedom to political prisoners”. The second column of 2-3 thousands people is moving along the traffic way of Nezalezhnasti Avenue and is coming to the Academy of Sciences from Park Cheluskintsev side. They are carrying the flags of the European Union and a transparent “EUROPEAN MARCH. Belarus to Europe”.

3: 45 p.m.

The meeting at the Academy of Sciences has ended, and Viktar Ivashkevich, the European March organizing committee head has called the people to go to the Park of Peoples’ Friendship. The column of people who were moving along Nezalezhnasti Avenue now turned back at Tolbuchin Boulevard and is moving to the Academy of Sciences. The columns are evidently to join there.

3.40 p.m.

At the Academy of Sciences the meeting is going on. The BPF Party (Belarusian Popular Front) leader Vintsuk Viachorka has read the appeal of European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Belarus Chairman Bogdan Klich to the European March participants. The EP deputy declared that Belarus must be in the European Union and called the Belarusian authorities to implement 12 proposals of the EU. At the same time the column of several thousands goes on moving along Nezalezhnasti Avenue.

3.30 p.m.

The total amount of the European March participants is rated from 7.000 to 10.000 people. Approximately 4.000 are at the Academy of Sciences at the moment, where the meeting with the European March organizers is taking place. The same number of people is moving along the traffic way of Nezalezhnasti Avenue in the district of Park Cheluskintsev. The action participants have unfurled 40-meters EU flag.

3.20 p.m.

The people have passed Surhanau Street and are moving in the traffic way of the Nezalezhnasti Avenue. A part of people stayed at the Academy of Sciences, where the meeting is beginning in which the action applicants Aliaksandr Milinkevich and Anatol Liabedzka are taking part. The main part of the European March participants are mobbing along Nezalezhnasti Avenue ay the moment. The GAI cars are forcing the people from there, they are practically riding down the people. Some people tried to lie down on the ground before the cars’ wheels.

3.15 p.m.

The many thousands column of the European March participants has arrived at the Academy of Sciences. There several thousands people under European and national Belarusian flags have been already waiting for them. At the spot near the Academy of Sciences, almost fully crowded with people the music is playing.

3.10 p.m.

GAI are charged to perform the role of punitive agency today. They are forcing roughly the

people from the road actively using their striped clubs. A part of people is moving on the road all the same.

3.00 p.m.

The GAI cars are literally driving on the European March participants. The GAI with clubs are forcing the people from the road to the pavements. The GAI cars are driving on the people’s feet, pushing the people with hoods, cynically riding down the pedestrians

2.50 p.m.

In the district of Yakub Kolas Square the European March participants went out to the road. The people have occupied 3 traffic lanes and are moving along Nezalezhnasti Avenue under the European and EU flags and scanning “Our time is now!” and “Join us!”

2.45 p.m.

5 thousand column of demonstrants is coming to Yakub Kolas Square. The European March participants have unfurled the transparent “Belarus in Europe!”. People are scanning “Long live Belarus!” and “Our time is now!”. The national and European flags are waving. The car drivers are beeping as the sign of solidarity with the European March participants.

2.40 p.m.

There are so many European March participants that there is not enough space on the pavement and the people went to the road in the Peramoha Square district. Many GAI (road militia) members have come, they are forcing the people out the traffic way to the pavement.

2.35 p.m.

The column of the European March participants has increased to 5 thousand people. The peole are moving along the two sides of Nezalezhnasti Avenuie. The column’s head is on the Peramoha Square, its tail is near Yanka Kupala Park. The flags of the European Union are waving, the people scanning “Our time is now”

2.30 p.m.

The European March participants have unrolled the big transparent “EUROPEAN MARCH” and “We support 12 EU proposals” at the head of the column. For Belarus!

2.10 p.m.

The number of the European March participants on the Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk has increased to 3 thousands. Many EU and Belarusian national flags are waving. People are wearing the caps with the EU symbols and bandannas. Almost everybody has filleted a blue ribbon on the clothes. People have stretch a transparent “12 proposals of the EU - into life!” it looks striking: sunny weather and Kastrychnitskaya Square blue with European flags

2. 05 p.m.

The movement “For Freedom” leader, one of the European March applicants Aliaksandr Milinkevich made a speech on the steps of the Trade Unions Palace and called the people to go to the Academy of Sciences in organized way. “The European March is a peaceful action. We must demonstrate the whole world that Belarus must and wants be in Europe! Long live European Belarus!” now the people are moving along Nezalezhnasti Avenue. The EU flags are waving. Aliaksandr Milinkevich is heading the column.

1. 55 p.m.

A European March applicant, one of the Young Front leaders Zmiter Hvedaruk called people to go from Kastrychnitskaya Square to the permitted gathering place - the Academy of Sciences. Now people are going to move along Nezalezhnasti Avenue to the Academy of Sciencesunder Belarusian and European flags.

1.50 p.m.

More than 2 thousand European March participants have gathered, the EU and national white-red- white flags are waving. People have unrolled the transparent “Belarus in Europe”. Many people are wearing blue bandannas with EU symbols and blue ribbons on the clothes.

1.45 p.m.

A car with sound amplifiers has driven to Kastrychnitskaya (Oktiabrskaya) Square, it is announced that the people gathering is unauthorized. Now more than a thousand people are on the square. The people have raised the EU flags and are scanning “Long live Belarus!” The European March organizers are coming to the square to lead people to the Academy of Sciences in organized way.

1.35 p.m.

Kastrychnitskaya (Oktiabrskaya) Square is open. People begin to gather on the square. The weather is fine. People are in good mood. Soon the European March organizers are coming there to lead the people to the permitted gathering place – the Academy of Sciences.