Flash-mob in Support of Belarus in Tallinn :: Charter'97 :: News

On the Day of Solidarity on April 16 in the centre of Tallinn, in Tammsaare Park, a 15-minute flash-mob was organized. During the action about 20 persons were silently reading newspapers with the caption on the front page: “An innocent pastime? You would be imprisoned in Belarus for that!” the goal of the rally organized by the Group in support of Belarus was to attract attention of the public to the fact that freedom of press and freedom of expression do not exist in our country.

“Estonian media have reacted to the protest rally in Moscow this weekend by numerous front-page profile articles,” told the member of the Group in support of Belarus Krister Paris. “A great number of people do not know that it`s a long time since such a display of power became a common occasion in Belarus. The littlest expression of dissent to the regime, for instance reading an oppositional newspaper could lead to an arrest and beating up in a police department,” Paris said.

The Group in support of Belarus in Estonia was founded by civil associations and by private persons who took part in observation over presidential elections in Belarus in 2006. With the support of the Open Estonia Foundation the Day of Solidarity is marked in Estonia since 2005.