Minsk authorities allow Chernobyl March 2018 rally after changing place, time

Minsk City Executive Committee has allowed the rally Chernobyl March 2018 to take place on 26 April 2018. The organizers received a reply to their application submitted at the beginning of the month at about 5 p.m. on Friday, April 20.

Minsk authorities have satisfied the application but changed it, co-leader of the Belarusian Christian Democracy organizing committee Volha Kavalkova said. The time and the venue have been changed.

“The participants will gather near the cinema house Kastrycnik at 6 p.m. We will start walking along Independence Avenue, Surhanau and Arlouskaja streets towards the intersection with Karastajanava Street 30 minutes later. The meeting and prayer will be held near the chapel starting from 8 p.m. until 8.30 p.m. 30 minutes is not enough for such a meeting and there will be railings installed. We are going to discuss the format of the meeting,” Kavalkova noted.

“There are also problems with unregistered symbols and mottoes not corresponding to the action. At the same time we all know that white-red-white flags are a traditional symbol which is used at Chernobyl March rallies every year,” Volha Kavalkova added.

The organizers of Chernobyl March 2018 wanted to have a meeting near the cinema house Kastrycnik before setting off to the memorial sign in the People’s Friendship Park. However, officials have not approved this option.

The Astraviec March campaign, a broader series of events against the construction of the nuclear power plant in Astraviec, western Belarus will be kicked off during the Chernobyl March rally.