Street sprinklers against participants of the solidarity rally

Before the rally of solidarity which was to start in October square of Minsk on May 5 in the evening, several street cleaning machines arrived to the scene. For some time people couldn’t stay on the square, as they risked to be showered by water.

It is obvious that the authorities found an original way to prevent people from gathering in the centre of Minsk. Never before there was a necessity occurred to wash October Square in rush hours, as many people walk there at that time.

As we have informed, on May 4 participants of the rally of solidarity with portraits of political prisoners sat on the ground. And after the street cleaning machines there was so much water left that there were puddles on the square.

However, the solidarity rally has taken place. More than 40 activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus” and “Young Front” gathered there. They were holding portraits of political prisoners Mikalay Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau and Uladzimir Asipenka, a streamer “Freedom to political prisoners!”, a national white-red-white and European flags.

Well-known people like the leader of the “European Belarus” Andrei Sannikov, Charter’97 coordinator Zmitser Bandarenka, activists of the “European Belarus” Zmitser Barodka, Yauhen Afnagel, Pavel Yukhnevich, Maxim Vinyarski, Alyaksandr Atroshchankau, a former political prisoner Andrei Kim, participant of the “Process of Fourteen” Maxim Dashuk and others have taken part in the protest.

Street sprinklers had to leave the square, but two dozens of riot policemen arrived there. They stood in front of demonstrators in a tight row, screening them off from passers-by.

A national white-red-white flag and a flag of the “European Belarus” were put by the unknown on the building opposite the square as a sign of solidarity with the protesters.

Demonstrators were chanting “Freedom!”, “Long live Belarus!”. Addressing riot policemen, they shouted “Shame on you!”

As we have informed, rallies of solidarity with political prisoners are held in Minsk every day. Belarusians come to the streets expressing their solidarity with political prisoners. One of the political prisoners, Mikalay Autukhovich, continues an indefinite hunger strike which poses a serious threat to his life.

In the end of the rally young activists called upon Belarusians to come to October Square in Minsk on May 6 at 6 p.m.