BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

15/10/2007

Thousands in Belarus march for EU membership

(MINSK) - Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Minsk amid a heavy police presence Sunday to call for greater political freedom and for Belarus to join the European Union.

The administration of President Alexander Lukashenko -- dubbed the "last dictator in Europe" by Washington -- allowed the protest to go ahead although anti-riot police lined the route through the city centre.

However, opposition sources complained last week that activists had been detained ahead of the event and warned not to attend.

The demonstrators, mostly young people, carried EU flags and banners proclaiming "Belarus in Europe", "Free political prisoners" and demanding that Russian military bases leave the country.

"Europe means free elections for free citizens," opposition leader Alexander Milinkevich told the crowd.

"I am asked how many times we must demonstrate. We will demonstrate as long as we are not winning and as long as our people are not free."

Nikolai Statskevich, the leader of the social democratic party, added: "In this protest, we have taken the first step towards joining a unified and free Europe."

Protests in Belarus, which used to be part of the Soviet bloc, have in recent years been dispersed by security forces.

This time around, the authorities arrested protest leaders and opposition activists on Friday ahead of the march -- provoking criticism from Washington, which expressed its "concern about the well being" of political prisoners.

In Minsk, activists Pavel Yukhnevich and Nikita Sasim were sentenced to five and seven days in jail for "rude talk in public places", court officials said.

And Belarus People's Front leader Vintsuk Vyacherka said his party's office was blocked all day Friday by three unidentified officials who searched everyone leaving the building.

"They are most likely looking for leaflets and stickers calling for the march. Our activists in the regions are warned that a trip to Minsk Sunday is unacceptable," he told AFP at the time.

Belarus' political parties must abide by strict laws that limit all real opposition to Lukashenko's presidency.

Source:

http://www.eubusiness.com/Enlargement/1192375922.38