DAY OF FREEDOM CELEBRATION!

(Minsk, Belarus, March 25th, 2007)

Celebration of the Day of Freedom is to be held in Kalinousky (Kastrichnitskaya) Square in Minsk on March 25th at 12.00 pm. This was announced at the press-conference by members of the organization committee on celebration of the Day of Freedom: leader of the democratic forces of Belarus Aleksandr Milinkevich, chairman of the BNF Party Vintsuk Vyachorka, deputy chairman of the Belarusian Socio-Democratic Party (Gramada) Ales Streltsov and deputy chairman of the United Civil Party Igor Shinkarik. "25 March the Belarusian people are going to support the independence of Belarus and declare the necessity of democratic changes in our country. We support the propositions of the European Union to the authorities and the people and repeat that they are to become reality in case the steps towards democracy are made. Among these steps is the official permission for celebration of the Day of Freedom in the center of the capital. We hope that the authorities will not prevent people from gathering in the square", this is how the declaration of the organization committee runs.

"March 25 we will come to the Kalinousky Square because we ought to be there. I am sure, the Day of Freedom will become the state holiday, and so, we offered the authorities to celebrate it together. The Belarusian authorities have to understand today that in the situation of evident crises in the country we have to look for mutual understanding for preserving the independence of the country. I call everybody to come to the Kalinousky Square. It is going to be an exclusively peaceful action, a celebration of the Day of Freedom", leader of the democratic forces of Belarus Aleksandr Milinkevich declared at the press-conference.

Deputy chairman of the United Civil Party Igor Shinkarik mentioned the general conditions put forward by the European Union for implementation in Belarus as the basis for receiving the European economic assistance. Among those are the release of political prisoners, provision of freedom of speech and meetings.

"It is our common standpoint to come to the Kalinousky Square on March 25. Nowadays the country can get substantial assistance from the European Union but in return the authorities have to make certain and evident steps towards democracy. The Belarusian society ought to get united by such values as freedom and independence. And 25 March is giving such possibility", leader of the BNF party Vintsuk Vyachorka declared.

Demonstrators Detained on March 25, 2007 in Belarus

(List of Detained Human Rights Activists)

On March 25, 2007 on the anniversary of proclamation of the Belarusian People's Republic, more than 40 activists were detained in Belarus. According to human rights activists, detentions have taken place in Minsk, Hrodna, Brest, Vitsebsk, Rahachou, Rechytsa. According to inofficial information, about 20 detainees were taken to the police department of Pershamajski district, some of them were beaten up.

The human rights center Viasna offers lists of detained on March 25:

1. Raman Yurhel, a human rights activist, Hrodna
2. Ales Astrouski, BPF, Hrodna
3. Nikalay Voran, Hrodna
4. Viktar Zhylinski, UCP, Rahachou
5. Uladzimir Tamkovich, UCP, Rahachou
6. Dzmitry Shymanski, a chairman of a city branch of the Belarusian People's party, Brest
7. Valery Putsitsky, BPF, Rechytsa
8. Anton Stasiuk, Brest
9. Svyatlana Khanenka, underage
10. Alena Padvojskaya, underage
11. Syarhei Kavalenka
12. Ana Litvinava
13. Alena Zaleskaya
14. Jan Taldyha
15. Ivan Burykin
16. Jan Dzyarzhautsau
17. Dzmitry Baradulya
18. Uladz Tokarau
19. Dzmitry Kalantaeu
20. Yuliya Kalantaeva
21. Volha Kalantaeva
22. Yuras Styapanau, a journalist of Radio Polonia
23. Dzmitry Karatkevich
24. Syarhei Straltsou
25. Ales Paznyak, Vitsebsk
26. Barys Khamajda, Vitsebsk
27. Uladzimir Rusakevich, Minsk
28. Ryhor Nezhnikau
29. Pavel Batueu, Minsk
30. Raman Patsalueu, Hrodna
31. Maxim Rudkouski, Hrodna
32. Yury Zhydovich, BPF, Hrodna
33. Maryna Najdzits, Minsk
34. Jan Lahvinovich
35. Yury Khadvinski, placed to a police department of Pershamajski district of Minsk
36. Tsikhanovich, placed to a police department of Pershamajski district of Minsk
37. Dzyanis Holakhau, beaten during detention in a police department of Pershamajski district of Minsk
38. Syarhei Halyshka, a police department of Pershamajski district of Minsk
39. Alyaksandr Atroschankau, a police department of Frunzenski district
40. Tatsyana Tsishkevich, a police department of Tsentralny district
41. Yauhen Tarasevich, a police department of Partyzanski district
42. Vitaly Tsikhanovich, a police department of Tsentralny district

As we have informed, more than 60 activists more were detained in Belarus on the eve of Freedom Day. Among them are youth leaders Alyaksei Shydlouski, Alyaksandr Atroschankau, Ales Kalita, Barys Haretski, Zmitser Fedaruk and others. People were charged with petty hooliganism and arrested fro 5-15 days. As always policemen were witnesses in courts. What a nice legal system!