Human right day in Minsk :: Charter'97 :: News

Action dedicated to the 56th anniversary of Universal declaration of Human rights was carried out in Minsk on December, 10. About 500 people came to Oktyabrskaya square in Minsk with portraits of disappeared leaders of Belarusian opposition Victor Gonchar, Yury Zaharenko, Anatoly Krasousky, journalist Dmitry Zavadsky. Also they carried portrait of vice-speaker of Supreme Sovet-13 Gennady Karpenko who had died under unrevealed circumstances. Participants of the action were holding banners “Lukashenka! Where are Gonchar, Krasovsky, Zavadsky?!”, “Freedom to political prisoners!”, “Freedom to Marinich!”, “Today Ukraine, tomorrow Belarus!”, “You can steal the elections but you can’t steal the truth” and flafs of European Union. Many of them were with orange bands as a sign of solidarity with people of Ukraine. Activists of “Zubr” movement and Young front, representatives of political parties and Human right defenders took part in the action. Among the protesters were coordinators of “Free Belarus” Andrey Sannikov and Mikalay Statkevich, coordinators of “Zubr” movement Mikita Sasim and Yeugeny Afnagel, leader of United Civil Party Anatoly Lebedko, leader of Party of communists Belarusian Sergey Kaliakin, Human right defenders Liudmila Griaznova, Harry Pogonyaylo, relatives of disappeared people Irina Krasovskaya, Svetlana and Yury Zavadsky and other well-known people.

The action on Oktyabrskaya square continued for about 40 minutes. Than column of about 200 “Zubr” activists moved to building of KGB shouting “Long live Belarus!”. Near KGB building “Zubr” activists started to shout “Where is Zavadsky!? Where is Gonchar? Where is Krasousky? Where is Zaharenko?”. Than they attached portraits of disappeared people to walls and doors of KGB. Portraits of Victor Gonchar, Yury Zaharenko, Anatoly Krasousky, Dmitry Zavadsky, Gennady Karpenko were also attached to windows of KGB building.

First guards tried to hinder “Zubr” activists from attaching portraits. Three people dressed in camouflage started to tear portraits but when they saw that new and new portraits appear they left.
There were many policemen watching the action but they did not touch its participants. Chief of Minsk riot police Yury Podobed who had been banned to enter countries of European Union came to the action only after it was ended.

Portraits remained of walls of KGB for about 20 minutes more after people dismissed. Than people in camouflage went out of the building and tore the portraits down.