More than a hundred of cities of Europe demand freedom for Belarus (Photo)

On the 16th of December young European federalists called Europe to fight with the dictatorship in Belarus.

On the evening of 16 December, only three nights before the already much-criticised presidential elections in Belarus, JEF (Young European Federalists) activists and partners gathered for the 6th edition of the Free Belarus Action on the squares of more than a 100 cities around the world to gag statues and protest against the Belarusian dictatorship with the slogan "Give a Voice to Democracy", informs JEF-Europe website.

President of JEF-Europe declared Europe should fight with the schizophrenic regime in Belarus.

In the words of Philippe Adriaenssens, President of JEF-Europe: "This massive co-ordinated action taking place simultaneously across the planet points to the discrepancy that there is a dictatorship right at the EU's doorstep. The EU must take a clearer stance against the schizophrenic regime in Belarus. If its leader and high officials wish to travel through Europe, it should be upon the condition of further economic and political integration in Europe. The Action is therefore a sign of solidarity with our fellow Europeans in Belarus in their demand for a change from oppression towards freedom." .

Daniela Vidaicu, JEF-Europe Action Responsible specified how this mass event is different from the previous ones.

"The sixth Free Belarus Action had a particular weight because it took place right before the presidential elections on 19 December. The fact that five years after Lukashenko was granted limitless mandates as the country's supreme ruler, human rights are still violated and civil liberties non-existent, yet the EU is largely ignoring its rogue neighbour. This makes the Young European Federalists and other young people in Europe and the world all the more determined to protest against the parody of democracy in Belarus.", stated Daniela Vidaicu, JEF-Europe Action Responsible.

Åsa Gunvén, former Bureau Member of JEF-Europe and initiator of the Action explained the symbolism behind the Action since its first edition in 2006.

"The idea was to put the city symbols, and hence whole cities, into the shoes of Belarusian citizens who may not speak their minds for fear of repercussions from the regime. All statues stand for people who we celebrate, who spoke out; we said 'Imagine if they hadn't been able to.' The message resonated heavily, and in the next four years the action spread throughout Europe and other continents.", said Åsa Gunvén.

"With the Free Belarus Action, JEF has mobilised young people in the whole world with a common message: We care about human rights, we care about fundamental freedoms, we care about democracy in Belarus, and our leaders must not ignore it," continued Action Responsible.

"Although these elections have already been denounced as unfair and unfree, we will be waiting for the results with anticipation. However, democracy is much more than just organising elections. We demand freedom of expression, assembly and association for all Citizens, equal access to the media for all parties and the alignment of elecotral laws as well as human rights standards with European norms," insisted Philippe Adriaenssens.

Daniela Vidaicu wants to believe that everything will change in Belarus after the election and this was the last action of JEF.

"Each year we hope it wil be the last. But as long as there is oppression in Belarus, the Young European Federalists will continue to raise their voice," concluded Daniela Vidaicu.