White-red-white flag put out on power pole in Vicebsk
A white-red-white national flag appeared at the crossing of Prauda and Tereshkova streets on Saturday night in the northern Belarusian city of Vicebsk. A black mourning band was attached to the flag, The Belapan news agency reports that the flag was put out on the wires that carry the 110,000V-strong voltage.
The local opposition activist who distributes the independent press in Vicebsk, Barys Hamaida believes that the flag appeared to mark the first anniversary of the death of Uladzimir Plescanka, a member of the Conservative Christian Party of the Belarusian Popular Front. Mr Plescanka died on May 20, 2006 at the age of 58. He was one of the first opposition activists in Vicebsk. He headed the regional organization of the Conservative Christian Party of the Belarusian popular Front since 1999.
The monument to Uladzimir Plescanka is to be officialled unveiled on May 19 in the village of Krunkacy near Vicebsk. Br500,000 and around EUR150 were collected by the residents of the city, the representatives of the Belarusian Diaspora and members of the Belarusian Popular Front.
