Updated at 17:53,27-03-2024

Minsk authorities ban opposition from holding May Day protest march

Belsat.eu

Minsk authorities ban opposition from holding May Day protest march
Mikalai Statkevich. Photo: BelaPAN
The city authorities has rejected the Belarusian Democratic Trade Unions Congress’ request to hold a march on May, 1.

The event was to start at 16.00 near the Academy of Sciences, from there the participants were expected to march along Surganov street to the park of Friendship of Peoples. To hide hey have auhorized only a rally in Bangalore Square which is far from the center of the city.

However, this is not the only opposition protest planned on May Day in the capital. Mikalai Statkevich, the leader of the Belarusian National Congress and a former political prisoner, called on Belarusians to come to Kastrychnitskaya Square in downtown Minsk where he is set to hold the so-called People’s Assembly. The politician did not ask the city authorities for permission as there is an outside chance to receive the green light.

As reported earlier, on March 25 the Belarus riot police brutally dispersed a ‘non-parasite’ rally in Minsk. The protesters took to the streets to convey their deep outrage over the so-called tax on ‘spongers’ introduced by president Alyaksandr Lukashenka in 2015.