On the evening of October 16 in many windows of Belarusian towns and cities the light will be switched off, and hundreds and thousands candles of our solidarity and freedom will be lit. “Dark cities, dark windows, where only burning candles are seen. This could become a mirror for us to see that we are really many,” a journalist Iryna Khalip said. In many countries and capitals of the world the solidarity with Belarus is to be expressed on this day. We call upon all, who would take part in the Day of Solidarity, to send photos of burning candles in dark windows made on October 16 evening, to the email address charter97@gmail.com. The pictures are to be published at our site. Let’s see that we are many!
Preliminary information that Alyaksandr Lukashenka during his leave stays in Sochi in the hotel “Belarus”, has not proven true. As “KP in Belarus” writes, an assistant of Lukashenka stays in the detached summer cottage here.
Radio Svaboda was informed about that by Aleh Dubavets, a lawyer of the well-known oppositional politician, former deputy and the head of a deputy group “Respublika”. The case is to be considered by the Supreme Court of Belarus. Syarhei Skrabets is officially charged with three cases of violating the law – defrauding a state bank of credits, inciting a dweller of Byaroza to give a large bribe, and illegal business activities.
The foundation “Open Estonia” and Estonian European movement called upon all citizens of Belarus to light candles on October 16 and support freedom in Belarus. As the “Rosbalt” was informed by the organizers of the action, on October 16 the Day of Solidarity with Belarus will be held. As said by them, on this day Belarusians would switch off the light in their apartments for 15 minutes and light candles on their windows in remembrance of those who was abducted or murdered during Lukashenka’s dictatorship.
The NATO, as well as the USA, is focused on the problem of Belarus, which is the military and political ally of Russia. The president of the Foundation for Effective Politics Gleb Pavlovsky expressed concern over that on Friday at the meeting with journalists in Moscow.
Students from as far away as South Africa, Nepal, Ghana, and Taiwan are marching through campuses, parks, and streets to protest against Alexander Lukashenko`s government. "The Worldwide Walk, which will include Belarus language slogans, t-shirts, signs, and a pledge drive, also seeks to place pressure on Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko and his government to observe international human rights standards, including the right to free and fair elections," said Charlie Szrom, Founder and President of US-based Students for Global Democracy International.
On October 13, 2005 acting chairman of the All-National Strike Committee of Vendors Alyaksandr Vasilyeu and a son of the political prisoner Valery Levaneuski, a member of the Council of Civil Initiatives “Free Belarus” Uladzimir Levaneuski met the new head of the OSCE office in Minsk Ake Petersson. At the meeting the violations of human rights of Valery Levaneuski and other prisoners, situation in Belarusian prisons and judicial system in Belarus were discussed.
Since recent time by the house 28 in Lenin Street in Vitsebsk a special police guard stands. When opposition activists Barys Khamajda, Uladzimir PLeshchanka and Alyaksandr Salayan appear there, together or separately, policemen call up for a police car and take them to a police department. In this manner Mr.Khamajda has been detained for 4 times this week, as long as he has been distributing independent newspaper every day this month.
The head of the Union of Poles in Belarus, Andzelika Borys, who is not recognized by the authorities, was surprised by the fact that the Polish Ambassador returned to Minsk to his position. Andzelika Borys reminded that Tadeusz Pawlak was recalled for consultations to Poland at the moment of the Belarusian authorities’ crackdown on his organization. Meanwhile, according to the leader of the organization, the situation has not changed very much for the UPB.
IU Students for Global Democracy will hold its Worldwide Walk for Democracy in Belarus Saturday in Brown County. Money raised will go to groups directly contributing to democratizing Belarus, a part of the former Soviet Union.
The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly’s Sub-Committee on Human Rights, meeting in Geneva today, invited its Chairman, Christos Pourgourides (Cyprus, EPP/CD) to express its full support for the peaceful “Day of Solidarity” with the families and friends of four missing opposition activists and journalists: Yuri Zakharenko, Victor Gonchar, Anatoly Krasovski and Dmitri Zavadski. Grassroots initiatives such as “We Remember”, “We Want to Know the Truth”, “Free Belarus”, and “Zubr” are calling on citizens in Belarus to show their solidarity by switching off their lights on Sunday 16 October at 8 pm and to place a candle in their window.
Belarus’ opposition party, the Council of Democratic Forces, has decided to set up a committee to investigate the supposedly politically motivated deaths and disappearances of prominent opposition leaders, Rosbalt news agency reported Thursday.
Education minister of Belarus Alyaksandr Radzkou stated that political activities inside universities are impermissible. But this ban does not concern the Belarusian Republican Union of Youth, Radio Svaboda informs.
Activists of Zubr and other youth organizations continue preparation to Day of solidarity of October 16. Banner with number 16 was hanged out yesterday on October 13 on high building near Moscow market in Minsk. Hundreds of market visitors and passers by saw the banners sized 3x4 meters.
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