Belarusians taking to streets on Solidarity Day

16 October, on Belarusian Solidarity Day an action of solidarity with the political prisoners took place near the St Iosif Church in Minsk. The comers held the portraits of the arrested before the European March youth leaders Yauhen Afnahel, Paval Yuhnevich and Paval Kuryanovich. The especially notable was a big portrait of Zmiter Dashkevich, political prisoner, Young Front leader, who is serving his term in Shklou penal colony on charge of acting on behalf of unregistered organization.

The action participants prayed for return of St Iosif Church to the Catholic Church. As it known, there was a project of the authorities on rebuilding the Church and the monastery into a hotel complex. It was planned that a builder from one of the Arabian countries will be responsible for financial backing and construction. The Belarusian Catholics have struggled actively for the church: every day the prayer services on the church return to the believers were held near the church. Not only Catholics but also Orthodox, Protestants and other confessions representatives participated in the struggle for the church.

The authorities changed their mind and decided not to rebuild the church into the hotel and tourist complex, but haven’t yet returned it to the believers.

About ten special force regiment soldiers (former OMON) in civvies presented at the action. They didn’t hinder the action participants, but were taking film.