Today's 15th anniversary of referendum-1996

15 years ago, on November 24, 1996 the "second of the two" referendums took place in Belarus. At the first one, which took place on May 14, 1995, three fourth of the population voted for granting the Russian language "equal status with Belarusian" and for replacement of the white-red-white flag and the "Chaser" coat-of-arms for the current state symbols. At the same referendum, the Belarusian people supported further course for integration with Russia, and provided the President with an authorization to dissolve the Supreme Council pre-term upon necessity. Lukashenka put 4 issues to the referendum-1996, and the Parliament put 3 more. It is seen from the distance that at least 5 issues out of 7 had a decorative character: on private property for land, death penalty, elections of regional executive committees' heads, open and strictly budget financing of all branches of authority, and the Parliament's suggestion to eliminate such position as President. The issue on transferring the Independence Day from July 27 (the day when the Declaration of sovereignty of Belarus was adopted) to July 3 (the day of Minsk's liberation from German invaders) was a little bit more important to Lukashenka.

However, the most significant issue was the one of the amendments to the Constitution suggested by Lukashenka. Their adoption gave him the right to re-start counting his presidential term.

In fact, it was on this very day - November 24, 1996 - when the thaw, the neoteric wave of Revival in Belarus, which lasted since the moment of the Soviet Union's downfall, stopped.

On the 15th anniversary of the referendum, Euroradio looked through those years' photo album in order to recall some events and personalities.

President Lukashenka under the white-red-white flag and the "Chaser".  No later than mid-1995. In the left - the then Interior Minister Jury Zakharanka, missed since 1999

Lukashenka's bodyguards drove the Mercedes' manufactured in late 1980s then

One of those years' "Chernobyl Ways"

If we enlarge this photo, we'll see Victar Ivashkevich (last to the right) and Ihar Charnyauski (last to the left) - the then Chairman of the BPF's mandate commission, and at  present moment - the head of the Department on protection of historical and cultural heritage of the Ministry of Culture.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka holds a speech on the 10th anniversary of the Chernobyl catastrophe at polluted territories

From left to right: Mikhail Myasnikovich, Leanid Maltsau, Syamyon Sharetski. To the right - Mikhail Chyhir, Metropolitan Filaret

Passing aid to "Chernobyl" kids. In the center - Ural Latypau (left) and the then Deputy Foreign Minister Andrej Sannikau.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka and kids.

Signing of some agreement under the white-red-white flag. The last to the right is...

...Andrej Sannikau

New state symbols. In the left - Syarhej Ling (Belarusian PM in 1996-2000) and Leanid Hulyaka, the actual Chairman of the Committee for religions and nations

A concert organized for "Chernobyl" kids, filmed by...

...operator Dzmitry Zavadzki

President Lukashenka at the territories polluted by Chernobyl

And in the end - a familiar picture dated back 15 years ago. It did not change a lot during this time.