Belarusian authorities authorize opposition rally in Minsk on March 25
MINSK. March 19 (Interfax) - The Minsk city executive committee has allowed Belarusian opposition to hold a street rally marking the 97th anniversary of the formation of the Belarusian People's Republic.
"The Minsk city executive committee has authorized a demonstration and rally on March 25, but changed the venue of the rally. The participants will meet near the movie theater Oktyabr at 3:00 p.m. There will be a march on Surganova Street to the People's Friendship Park, where the rally will be held, It will end at 5:00 p.m.," the Belarusian People's Front party said in a report.
The party said the slogan of the rally will be "Together for peace and independence."
The organizers of the rally are Alexander Yanukevich, chairman of the party Belarusian People's Front, Marina Khomich, leader of Young Christian Democrats, and Nikita Semonenko, a representative of the movement For Freedom.
The independence of the Belarusian People's Republic was declared on March 25, 2918. This day is not officially celebrated in Belarus, but the opposition marks it as Will Day. Street rallies are traditionally conducted in Minsk on this day.
The Belarusian People's Republic is a political entity declared in 1918 by a group of national movement activists. The Belarusian People's Republic existed as an independent state in 1918-1919. After that, the government of the Belarusian People's Republic had to emigrate. Historians still differ on whether the Belarusian People's Republic can be called a state or if it was only an attempt to create a state.