Photo-fact: National symbols in Salihorsk

A campaign to promote the historical symbols of Belarus was held in Salihorsk.

Activists decorated popular recreation zones with white-red-white ribbons, charter97.org learnt from a ribbon.

The white-red-white flag and Pahonia (Chase) coat of arms are historical symbols of independent Belarus. The Supreme Council of the Belarusian Soviet Republic declared them the state symbols and changed the country's name to the Republic of Belarus on September 19, 1991.

As a result of the referendum of May 12, 1995, which was held with violations of the Constitution, the national symbols were banned and replaced by modified Soviet symbols.

Democratic activists have been holding campaigns and hanging out white-red-white flags and ribbons for the last 20 years to remind people about the real symbols of independent Belarus.