Minsk authorities forbid to mark Independence Day

The party CCP-BPF was denied holding a rally on July 27.

The Supreme Council of the Belarusian Soviet Republic adopted the Declaration on State Sovereignty on July 29, 1990. This day was called the Independence Day of Belarus. The acting authorities cancelled he holiday after the 1996 referendum and moved celebration of the Independence Day to July 3 – the day of liberation of Minsk from the Nazi troops, Radio Svaboda reports.

Democracy-minded people still consider July 27 the Day of Independence of the Republic of Belarus and mark it with street rallies, pickets and other events. Political parties and movements do not plan to celebrate the day of state sovereignty this year.

One of the reasons is a ban on celebrating by the Minsk city authorities, one of CCP-BPF party leaders Yury Belenki says.

“The city executive committee does not allow us to hold a rally in Yanka Kupala park. They say they have scheduled cleaning works on that day. Earlier, we received a ban on holding a rally in Kiev park. It shows that the ban was given by the people who cynically do not recognize us, Belarusians. The Declaration on Independence was adopted on that day, July 27. It was a holiday, but the authorities cancelled it. Nevertheless, this day is important for our history. The Belarusians, who feel themselves Belarusians, should celebrate it. It may be a call to a friend, a party or something else. In any case, it is an element of opposing the authorities with their cynic attitude towards our historical memory.”

Head of the BPF party Alyaksei Yanukovich shares his plans for July 27.

“We used to hold street events, but we don't plan any this year. We recommended our candidates, whose initiative groups were registered, to gather signatures under national white-red-white flags on this day on occasion of an anniversary of adoption of the Declaration on State Sovereignty. We also advised our regional branches to have solemn events. We will have a meeting in Minsk. We decided carrying out pickets under white-red-white flags would be the best option.”