26 August 2006
Opposition activists in Minsk mark 15th anniversary of sovereignty declaration by rock concert

A four-hour rock show was staged in Minsk on Friday evening on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of Belarus' Declaration of State Sovereignty.

N.R.M., Neuro Dubel, Krama, Tav.Mauzer, Pamidor/OFF, Partyzanskaya Shkola and other rock bands who do not conceal their dislike for Aleksandr Lukashenko's government performed before an audience of some 2,000 people, mostly opposition youths.

Official organizers of the "Songs for Freedom" event in Nations' Friendship Park (near Bangalore Square) were opposition activists who had obtained the city government's permission.

Earlier, the Minsk authorities had not allowed the concert to be staged on July 27 (the anniversary of the Declaration's adoption).

The concert was ultimately staged on August 25. The declaration was given the status of a constitutional act on this date in 1991.

Emcee Aleksandr Pomidorov called on the crowd not to wave white-red-white flags and not to smoke and drink alcohol in order not to give authorities a pretext to stop the concert. People largely obeyed.

Vintsuk Vyachorka, chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front, made a speech in an interval. Other prominent opposition leaders were absent. //BelaPAN