“Second Front” against Belarusian dictatorship

The Belarus Free Theatre and British actors held an outstanding performance in London.

A performance organised by the Belarus Free Theatre and the civil campaign Free Belarus Now took place in London today. The event involved British cultural professionals, in particular actor Jude Law who called to join the protest in a video appeal.

Human bodies were left lying in white plastic bags in three London locations – in Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Square and in front of the Parliament. They symbolised that Belarus remains the only European country that executes death sentences. Passers-by were offered to sign postcards demanding to release Belarusian political prisoners and stop violating human rights in Belarus. The postcards were sent to heads of the EU institutions and European leaders.

Natalia Kaliada, the Free Theatre director and co-organiser of the protest, said in an interview with charter97.org that Londoners asked about the situation in Belarus, said words of support and signed postcards.

“The Second Front was opened in the World War II on June 6, 1944, to free Europe from fascism. We call on the EU and the United States to do the same to free the continent from Lukashism. This protest was held as part of our campaign in three most crowded sites of London as well as in New York. About 50 volunteers – people of culture and art and representatives of famous publishing houses – took part in the performance in the British capital. It took more than an hour and attracted huge interest of ordinary Londoners and media.

We sent letters to all EU bodies, the United Nations and the US Department of State as part of the campaign. We urged western politicians to intensify struggle against the dictatorship in Belarus. In particular, we called to apply efforts to release and rehabilitate political prisoners, abolish the death penalty, release bodies of executed people to their relatives, investigate cases of disappeared politicians and carry out free elections in Belarus. We also called to impose targeted economic sanctions on companies that have ties with the administration of Lukashenka or him personally,” Natalia Kaliada said.