Freedom Day rally begins at 15:00 March 25

Organiser of the Freedom Day rally in Minsk held a press conference today.

Representatives of opposition parties said the requirements of the Minsk authorities were provocative, but called to observe them.

The Minsk authorities allowed holding the rally at 15:00 on March 25, which is a working day.

“We regard the actions of the Minsk authorities as a political provocation,” leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Liabedzka said. “We regret that new Minsk head Andrei Shorats begins his activity at the post in such a way.”

Aliaksei Yanukevich, the chairman of the BPF party, said the Minsk authorities wanted to disrupt the rally. He called on all people, especially the youth, to take part in the event.

Maryna Khomich, a representative of the organising committee to create the Belarusian Christian Democracy party, called on demonstrators to bring national symbols. She noted that Ukrainian flags were not banned.

“I'd like to tell all those who call to gather at a different time that we do not want people to be beaten by the police,” she told charter97.org. “Come at 15:00 on March 25 to Kastrychnik cinema, the place that was permitted by the authorities.

In accordance with the official permission, we can stay near the cinema for an hour. A decision on a further march will be taken on site depending on the situation.”

According to the BCD member, activists will collect signatures to declare Freedom Day a public holiday.

“If we manage to bring audio equipment, it will be a concert of Belarusian musicians. But we doubt we will be able to do it, because all attempts to bring equipment in the last ten years failed. If we don't have equipment, the rally will end with a march to Bangalore Square,” Maryna Khomich said.

Participants are expected to gather near Kastrychnik cinema at 15:00 and go to Peoples' Friendship Park. The topic of the rally is independence, solidarity with Ukraine, protest against antidemocratic policy.

Activists began to collect signatures on the Internet to declare Freedom Day on March 25 a day off. The petition can be signed on change.org.

“We, citizens of the Republic of Belarus, propose to declare March 25, the day of the foundation of the Belarusian People's Republic in 1918, a national holiday of the Republic of Belarus. Taking into account the historical importance of the event for the people of Belarus and the country's independence, we propose to declare March 25 a day off and mark it as the National Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus,” the petition says.

The petition is addressed to the “house of representatives”, the Council of Ministers and Lukashenka's Administration.