Chernobyl’s pain is in our hearts :: Charter'97 :: News

15 thousand Belarusians took part in the Chernobyl Way action which is traditionally held in Belarus 26 April. The authorities were in their element: the center of the city was full of enforcement regiments, Yakub Kolas Street where it had been planned for the participants to meet was blocked. Those who tried to go beyond the authorities` scenario were severely beaten. They threatened to use special devices against the participants. The Minsk authorities even endangered the people`s lives –the road inspection and special militia regiment pushed the people to the sidewalks which were under reconstruction. Nevertheless, despite of all the hardships the people came out into the streets and their number was really large, taking into account all the difficulties which they had to overcome.

The city authorities prohibited the participants to move along the requested route: Yakub Kolas Street-Avenue of Independence-the National Library. Without adjustment of the route with the action applicants the Minsk executive committee accepted another scenario of the action: gathering of participants near the Academy of Sciences, march along Surhanau Street and meeting in the park of Friendship of Nations. The applicants considered the Minsk executive committee`s decision illegal and appealed it to the court. They declared that they would come to Yakub Kolas Street and accompany the people to the place of gathering.

Since 5 p.m. Yakub Kolas Square and all passages to it have been cordoned off. All shops including the Central department store, restaurants, pharmacies, state agencies on the square were closed. Cars and public transport were prohibited to stop on the square, and metro station was closed as well. People had to gather near Lido restaurant and “Footwear centre”. But riot policemen in mufti were patrolling there as well, and called upon people to disband. At 6 p.m. organizers of the rally arrived. Under Belarusian and European flags and Minsk flags they directed the protesters to the Academy of Science.

Thousands of Belarusians were waiting for them there. It had been planned to adopt the resolution of Charnobylski Shliakh, however organizers failed to bring sound amplifying equipment. The column of demonstrators moved along Independence Avenue to Surhanau Street. People were carrying streamers: When building new nuclear power station, remember old mistakes!”, “Belarus without nuclear power plants!”, “Hands off Chernobyl allowances!”, “There cannot be atom for peace”, “No to second Chernobyl”, “For freedom!”, “Stop living on illusions”, “Free political prisoners”, “Free Kazulin!”, “Only dead do not fear radiation”, “For alternative sources of energy”, “Give medicines to Chernobyl invalids!” A great number of European and Belarusian flags were seen. Many protesters had sweaters “For Freedom!” on. Some had respirators, some had written on their clothes “No to nuclear power station!” Almost every participant of the demonstration was carrying at least a white-red-white ribbon, or a small national flag was carried by each protester. The column was really bright and multi-coloured.

The traffic at the crossing of Surhanau and Yakub Kolas streets was stopped by riot policemen. Demonstrators managed to cross the street. However problems started at the rather narrow street. Policemen and authorities exposed Charnobylski Shliakh protesters to danger consciously.

Traffic policemen and policemen ordered demonstrators to walk along Surhanau Street sidewalks, though construction work is carried out on the both sides of this street. It was impossible to march on sidewalks because of trailers, pits, construction materials, heaps of sand and broken stone there. Organizers of the rally many times requested commanders of riot police and traffic policemen to allow people walking along traffic area, at least in the part where it was impossible to march on sidewalks. However with an idiotic resoluteness with the help of megaphones they demanded people to go on a destroyed sidewalk. It looks like the lesson of Nyamiha tragedy has not sunk in. Nobody has answered for 53 victims then.

The organizers and participants of the action several times asked the heads of the militia regiment and road inspection to allow the people walk on the road at least in those parts of the street where it was impossible to walk on the sidewalks. But they wouldn’t allow. The road inspection staff stood along the road, police vehicles blocked the way in several places. There was no place for the people to walk and they moved along the road.

Organizers of the rally believe that the prosecutor’s office is to bring up a criminal action against Minsk city executive committee, the leadership of the Interior Affairs head department, and riot police special regiment for a failure to ensure public order and security of participants of Charnobylski Shliakh.

The crossing of Surhanau and Yakub Kolas streets is cordoned off by riot policemen. Riot policemen attacked protesters. Riot policemen in black uniform attacked protesters with truncheons. People were kicked, beaten up unmercifully, their streamers were seized, and flag poles broken by policemen. They were forced out to the sidewalk. Then policemen clamed down and took the traffic area themselves.

Riot policemen were walking self-importantly on the first traffic lane, and a truck with sound amplifying equipment was driving there. Several cars with drivers were parked on the first traffic lane. To the question why traffic policemen do not react to them, they said they are “staff” cars. Traffic was blocked by policemen themselves!

Then the rally was relatively peaceful. People were walking on sidewalks up to Chernobyl chapel. They lit candles. An Orthodox priest held a prayer service in remembrance of the victims and for Belarus.

It seemed that people started to disband…But near Bangalore Square by McDonald’s restaurant dozens of riot policemen started to beat up and seize young people with flags. Policemen punched and kicked them, and then threw them to a bus. As said by one of the detainees, a riot policeman had bitten him! It should be his zeal… 15 persons were taken to the police department of Tsentralny district. They were released in an hour without drawing up a report. One of the organizers of the rally, a member of the Belarusian Popular Front Party Yuras Zyankovich, has been detained.