Belarusian Youth Against Renaming of Minsk Streets :: Charter'97 :: News

Belarusian young people are against renaming of the main streets of the capital. “Let’s return our avenues of Skaryna and Masherov!” Under this slogan another protest action was held on May 15 in Minsk.

At 2 a.m. by the restaurant “Pechki-Lavochki” activists of the Young Front and the Belarusian Popular Front Party, youth initiative “Voka”, Union of Belarusian Students and an organization “Free youth”, as well as some people who have found out about the action via internet. All participants were given portraits of the first printer in Eastern Slavonic lands, Francysk Skaryna. Participants have formed a line and walked along Skaryna Avenue, which is to be renamed by the authorities into Independence Avenue.

The protesters were detained in front of the Philharmonic Hall, and they were ordered to turn off into Mulyavin boulevard. Pretending they are following the order, participants of the smart-mob went to the boulevard, but then they returned to Skaryna Avenue and lined up by the building of the Philharmonic Hall. At that moment 2 participants were dragged into a police car. The remaining 50 participants continued the protest and went to the monument of Yakub Kolas singing. They placed red tulips to the monument. In five minutes the participants tried to return to the Philharmonic Hall, but policemen started arrests. 8 people are arrested. The detainees were released in two hours as the charges were dismissed, youth initiative “Voka” informs.