Brief chronicle of 25 March, 2006 Freedom Day Protests

A year ago one of the largest opposition rallies in Belarusian history took place. Tens of thousands of people went into the streets of Minsk to celebrate the Freedom Day and say "no" to dictatorship. That was probably the most uprising moment in Belarusian fight for democracy history--and yet, the most tragic. There were only some small actions of protests after it because people were too frightened by almighty repression mashine that spring day. Only next Freedom Day taking place this Sunday can tell whether Belarusians have managed to cope with this fear or not. And now we present you the chronicle in pictures of last year's protests.

Originally the rally was planned to take place in October Square, but the square was blocked by thousands of riot policemen. There was an official version for that: square needed to be cleared of the snow and demonstrators had to be kept away for their own good. Some reports state, however, that snow was brought by heavy trucks and scattered around the square to deprive potential protesters of space for holding the rally.

Unexampled number of policemen guarded square's ins and outs "for the sake of protesters"

People were gathering in all 4 main streets leading to the square. Their number was reported to be from couple of thousands (official Belarusian TV) to 40 000 people (CNN report). It is very hard to estimate their number because protesters were split into four groups parted by the large October Square.

Finally some protesters tried to break the police formation but they were driven back by specially trained  riot  policemen.

Then the police launched a counter-offensive. It was a success because nobody wanted to clash with police--people had come just to celebrate their Freedom Day.

Finally there were not any protesters left in all streets neighboring October square.  People headed towards Kupala Park to hold a peaceful meeting there. It seemed that nothing could spoil their mood.

However, information about newly appointed place for meeting didn't reach everyone and there were something about 4 000 people participating in it.

Opposition leaders Alexander Milinkevich and Alexander Kozulin addresed the meeting.

In the end of the meeting Alexander Kozulin proposed to walk to the prison where several hundreds participants of previous 19-24 March 2006 rally were detained and to support them. Lots of protesters started their way to the prison located couple of kilometers away.

Special police forces blocked the road on their halfway.

The majority of demonstrators turned back. Only few found courage to stay. They hoped that riot police won't use brute force against them. Ex-presidential contender Kozulin came up to Dmitry Pavlichenko, commander of special police unit, to hold negotiations.

Alexander Kozulin (bottom right, with flower) addresses Dmitry Pavlyuchenko (upper left, in red beret)

After short conversation Kozulin was detained. Suddenly the police's formation approached the protesters and semiringed them.

 

For a few seconds people thought that they could hold the police's pressure but shortly after policemen started to beat people with clubs ruthlessly. Demonstrators started to flee away. At least two smoke grenade was fired which caused even more panic.

Then the police broke up their formation and starting  beating everyone they could  catch.

At least two demonstrators  were  reported to be injured badly.

Video of this clash can be downloaded here

Most of the demonstrators started their way back to the center of the city. They already walked nearly walked nearly a kilometer away from the place the police used brute force against them. However, they were still not in safety. Several special police buses and trucks outdistanced demonstrators' column. Policemen started chasing the people.

There were no journalists (all of them stayed with the wounded people in place of initial clash), so police acted even more cruelly. Witnesses state that police caught every man looking like demonstrator in nearby shops and courts, beat them severely and then detained. Almost no pictures of that have been made.

It is needless to say that Belarusian people were frightned by such absolutely excessive use of brute force. Opposition activity which had grown day-by-day, once again reduced to zero. Belarus has never known any notarable action of protest since that day. But still there's some hope.
People were free for a couple of hours that day. And there's still a slight possibility of them overcoming fear and going out into the streets to celebrate this Sunday their another Freedom Day, to get that sweet feeling of freedom, solidarity and changes they last time experieced a long year ago.