This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
Yakub Kolas Square was thronged today
Granddaughter of Yakub Kolas, Maria Mitskievich participated in the rally of retirees that took place at the square, named after her grandfather. “For Belarus that exists for us, Belarusians,” she explained.
Yakub Kolas is a renowned Belarusian writer, whose works are known for sympathy to ordinary Belarusian people.
Yakub Kolas is a renowned Belarusian writer, whose works are known for sympathy to ordinary Belarusian people.
A 20-year old girl who has just recovered from a beating on August 9 was detained again, according to the “Imena” charity founder Ekaterina Sinyuk.
“Today they grabbed this fragile 20-year old Lera who has barely healed the lacerations on the face, legs, and back she got on August 9. She still has trouble sleeping, she is in constant need of psychological help, and now she will surely get jail time. This is unbearable!”
“I feel blood dripping all over my body and my clothes. I don't feel pain. I start asking whether my face is alright. Of course, no one answers. And I like to think: that's it, half of my face is probably gone. Because I couldn't see what was going on, I was wearing my contact lenses and everything was covered in blood. But I've been optimistic since the beginning, even though I cried. The most important thing was that I was alive, the rest didn't matter,” Lera recently recounted the events of August 9.
“Today they grabbed this fragile 20-year old Lera who has barely healed the lacerations on the face, legs, and back she got on August 9. She still has trouble sleeping, she is in constant need of psychological help, and now she will surely get jail time. This is unbearable!”
“I feel blood dripping all over my body and my clothes. I don't feel pain. I start asking whether my face is alright. Of course, no one answers. And I like to think: that's it, half of my face is probably gone. Because I couldn't see what was going on, I was wearing my contact lenses and everything was covered in blood. But I've been optimistic since the beginning, even though I cried. The most important thing was that I was alive, the rest didn't matter,” Lera recently recounted the events of August 9.
NATIONAL STRIKE: WHAT IS KNOWN AT THE MOMENT (19:00)
Hrodna Azot
Day shift which was pressured by the police and was forced to go to the factory still refuses to replace their night shift colleagues. At 5 PM the workers planned to hold a “March against the violence of the regime” but canceled it because there was information about a large force of riot cops moving towards the factory.
Belaruskali
At 5 PM, a protest begun near the head office.
Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant
Activists report many workers participating in the "Italian strike." They are at their workplaces but they are not doing any work.
Minsk Electro-Technical Plant
Workers report that at 2.30 PM about 50 people spontaneously gathered. The head of the trade union agreed to meet them. "We have agreed to meet the management after the shift is over, and discuss the strike conditions with them," one of the workers said.
BelOMO
About 70 employees held a demonstration. The factory ideologue and the head of the trade union committee came out to meet them. A column of several dozen men decided to move to the city and join the other protesters.
Minsk Mechanical Plant
After the shift, the workers were supposed to meet with the management to discuss the conditions of the strike but the meeting never happened. Some workers came out to the Nezavisimosti avenue.
Power Plant 2 (Hrodna)
There was an anti-violence demonstration near the plant.
Hrodna Trolleybus Department
The trolleybuses periodically stop in the streets. There is no information regarding a strike. But back in August, the employees have signed a collective letter demanding honest elections and an end to police brutality.
Naftan
One of the workers publicly refused to go to the night shift, supporting the nationwide strike.
Hrodna Azot
Day shift which was pressured by the police and was forced to go to the factory still refuses to replace their night shift colleagues. At 5 PM the workers planned to hold a “March against the violence of the regime” but canceled it because there was information about a large force of riot cops moving towards the factory.
Belaruskali
At 5 PM, a protest begun near the head office.
Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant
Activists report many workers participating in the "Italian strike." They are at their workplaces but they are not doing any work.
Minsk Electro-Technical Plant
Workers report that at 2.30 PM about 50 people spontaneously gathered. The head of the trade union agreed to meet them. "We have agreed to meet the management after the shift is over, and discuss the strike conditions with them," one of the workers said.
BelOMO
About 70 employees held a demonstration. The factory ideologue and the head of the trade union committee came out to meet them. A column of several dozen men decided to move to the city and join the other protesters.
Minsk Mechanical Plant
After the shift, the workers were supposed to meet with the management to discuss the conditions of the strike but the meeting never happened. Some workers came out to the Nezavisimosti avenue.
Power Plant 2 (Hrodna)
There was an anti-violence demonstration near the plant.
Hrodna Trolleybus Department
The trolleybuses periodically stop in the streets. There is no information regarding a strike. But back in August, the employees have signed a collective letter demanding honest elections and an end to police brutality.
Naftan
One of the workers publicly refused to go to the night shift, supporting the nationwide strike.
A small column of protesters has been dispersed near Oktyabrskaya subway station but the people are trying to regroup.
Traffic police blocked the way to the Nezavisimosti square and some adjacent streets.
Another group of protesters was dispersed at the Nezavisimosti avenue, some of them were arrested.
Traffic police blocked the way to the Nezavisimosti square and some adjacent streets.
Another group of protesters was dispersed at the Nezavisimosti avenue, some of them were arrested.
REGARDING PEOPLE WHO SUFFERED FROM THE POLICE BRUTALITY YESTERDAY
There are around 6 people at the military hospital.
At the City Clinical Hospital #6 there is a woman with an explosive injury and a foreign body (possibly a plastic grenade fragment because it isn't visible on X-ray), multiple wounds of lower extremities.
Many injured people fear repercussions from the police and refuse hospitalization.
Leninsky Police Precinct:
Two people were taken to the Urgent Care hospital. One of them (the pictures show his legs) refused hospitalization and didn't tell how he got injured.
Frunzensky Police Precinct:
At least 6 people with varying injuries (including ones from beatings) were taken to the hospitals.
Centralny Police Precinct:
One ambulance call.
Pervomaisky Police Precinct:
Two people with head injuries. One couldn't see because of tear gas sprayed into his face.
At least three more people were taken to various hospitals.
There are around 6 people at the military hospital.
At the City Clinical Hospital #6 there is a woman with an explosive injury and a foreign body (possibly a plastic grenade fragment because it isn't visible on X-ray), multiple wounds of lower extremities.
Many injured people fear repercussions from the police and refuse hospitalization.
Leninsky Police Precinct:
Two people were taken to the Urgent Care hospital. One of them (the pictures show his legs) refused hospitalization and didn't tell how he got injured.
Frunzensky Police Precinct:
At least 6 people with varying injuries (including ones from beatings) were taken to the hospitals.
Centralny Police Precinct:
One ambulance call.
Pervomaisky Police Precinct:
Two people with head injuries. One couldn't see because of tear gas sprayed into his face.
At least three more people were taken to various hospitals.
University students have become the most prominent participants of the first day of the strike. They held demonstrations near their universities, those at the Belarusian State University were the most numerous. They blocked the Leningradskaya street and kept standing even when the riot cops arrived. Then the students moved to the Red Church and joined the retirees in a single large march.
This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
Near the Philharmonic, the officers of the Organized Crime department hit cars with truncheons.
The top economists will help Belarusian economy
Sixty prominent economists declared that they are ready to create a plan of economic development for Belarus. The open letter they signed includes the principles of reforming Belarusian economy.
The signees include well-known Belarusian and foreign economists, including members of the Economic group of the Coordination Council: Alex Alekhnovich, Pavel Daneiko, Dmitry Kruk, Serge Navrodsky, Sergei Chaly.
“We, the undersigned economists, state that we are ready to provide expert assistance in developing a program of economic reforms that would ensure the development of the country and increased welfare of its citizens. We are ready to use our knowledge and experience to consult the new democratically elected government of Belarus,” the open letter from the economists reads.
Sixty prominent economists declared that they are ready to create a plan of economic development for Belarus. The open letter they signed includes the principles of reforming Belarusian economy.
The signees include well-known Belarusian and foreign economists, including members of the Economic group of the Coordination Council: Alex Alekhnovich, Pavel Daneiko, Dmitry Kruk, Serge Navrodsky, Sergei Chaly.
“We, the undersigned economists, state that we are ready to provide expert assistance in developing a program of economic reforms that would ensure the development of the country and increased welfare of its citizens. We are ready to use our knowledge and experience to consult the new democratically elected government of Belarus,” the open letter from the economists reads.
Lukashenko: Belarus is bracing itself up for terrorist threads
“We have seen the radicalization of the remaining protesters. We clearly see the organizers and those who embody these ideas. Back then I said that we should act cautiously, since they did not yet cross the red line. The last few days have shown that they have crossed this red line in many ways,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
He emphasized that the government is worth its name if it knows how to defend itself and its people. “Therefore, when the red line is crossed, the government must respond,” he added.
“We have seen the radicalization of the remaining protesters. We clearly see the organizers and those who embody these ideas. Back then I said that we should act cautiously, since they did not yet cross the red line. The last few days have shown that they have crossed this red line in many ways,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
He emphasized that the government is worth its name if it knows how to defend itself and its people. “Therefore, when the red line is crossed, the government must respond,” he added.
NATIONAL STRIKE: OCTOBER 27
Hrodna Azot
Employees of "Hrodna Azot", where some specialists refuse to proceed with shift change over, report that they were promised additional bonuses for going to work.
Minsk Electro-Technical Plant
“[There is nobody around] tank welding line. Usually several people work here. Now work on the welding line has been halted."
Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ)
“More and more MAZ employees are taking sick leave and unpaid vacations.”
BelAZ
“One of BelAZ shops is on strike for the second day in a row, today there are 22 people. Other shops do not support their action. "
Medium-sized enterprises also participate in the strike. Mass strikes were reported in shopping center "Nemiga 3". There were closures of markets in Brest and Lida due to strikes.
Employees from various large enterprises report that the most active factory workers who take part in solidarity actions are questioned by management. There are known cases of dismissal. At the same time, a number of employees of state-owned enterprises make a decision to refuse to go to work and then quit or be fired.
Universities
"The teachers of the Minsk State Linguistic University submitted a strike notice to the university's chancellor." At the Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, approximately 35 employees announced an indefinite strike. University students held numerous solidarity actions.
Hrodna Azot
Employees of "Hrodna Azot", where some specialists refuse to proceed with shift change over, report that they were promised additional bonuses for going to work.
Minsk Electro-Technical Plant
“[There is nobody around] tank welding line. Usually several people work here. Now work on the welding line has been halted."
Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ)
“More and more MAZ employees are taking sick leave and unpaid vacations.”
BelAZ
“One of BelAZ shops is on strike for the second day in a row, today there are 22 people. Other shops do not support their action. "
Medium-sized enterprises also participate in the strike. Mass strikes were reported in shopping center "Nemiga 3". There were closures of markets in Brest and Lida due to strikes.
Employees from various large enterprises report that the most active factory workers who take part in solidarity actions are questioned by management. There are known cases of dismissal. At the same time, a number of employees of state-owned enterprises make a decision to refuse to go to work and then quit or be fired.
Universities
"The teachers of the Minsk State Linguistic University submitted a strike notice to the university's chancellor." At the Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, approximately 35 employees announced an indefinite strike. University students held numerous solidarity actions.
TUT.by subscriber received a letter from Maria Kalesnikava, who is currently detained in the Zhodina prison.
“What has happened to all of us, Belarusians, over the past months is so amazing and inspiring! And I know for sure that strength, energy, courage and valor are in each of us. For so long they tried to convince us and practically made us believe that we are not capable of anything and nothing depends on us, that we almost believed in it,” the letter says. “And as soon as we saw that there is an alternative, there are creative, strong, decent and proud Belarusians, we began to ‘wake up’ little by little.”
Maria notes that “sooner or later all such regimes fall.”
“What has happened to all of us, Belarusians, over the past months is so amazing and inspiring! And I know for sure that strength, energy, courage and valor are in each of us. For so long they tried to convince us and practically made us believe that we are not capable of anything and nothing depends on us, that we almost believed in it,” the letter says. “And as soon as we saw that there is an alternative, there are creative, strong, decent and proud Belarusians, we began to ‘wake up’ little by little.”
Maria notes that “sooner or later all such regimes fall.”
Belarusian Ambassador to Argentina sent a heated letter to Lukashenko, mentioning election fraud and beatings. And asked to dismiss him.
This is the second attempt of Vladimir Astapenko to resign from the post of the Ambassador of Belarus to Argentina and concurrently to the Republic of Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. Earlier, on September 23, on the day of Lukashenko's swearing-in, he had already submitted his resignation but hadn't gotten any feedback.
“The lack of international legitimacy of the head of state does not allow me, both as a diplomat and as a patriot of my country, to continue executing my duties as an ambassador, being subordinate to a person who has no right to express the will of the Belarusian people.”
This is the second attempt of Vladimir Astapenko to resign from the post of the Ambassador of Belarus to Argentina and concurrently to the Republic of Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. Earlier, on September 23, on the day of Lukashenko's swearing-in, he had already submitted his resignation but hadn't gotten any feedback.
“The lack of international legitimacy of the head of state does not allow me, both as a diplomat and as a patriot of my country, to continue executing my duties as an ambassador, being subordinate to a person who has no right to express the will of the Belarusian people.”