An all-European action of solidarity with the Belarusian democratic opposition was held in dozens of towns on March 18.

An action “Give the people of Belarus a voice!” was organized by the Young European Federalists. All people who worry about the situation with freedom of speech in Belarus joined the action.

Statues and monuments were gagged in many European cities. Participants of the action handed round information bulletins about the situation in Belarus, told about another attack on the freedom of speech on March 16, when offices of charter97.org and independent newspaper “Narodnaya Volya” as well as apartments of famous journalists Iryna Khalip, Maryna Koktysh, and politician Andrei Sannikov were searched. Editor of charter97.org website Natallya Radzina was beaten during the search.

Similar actions were hold in Minsk. The young people protesting against pressure on independent journalists gagged statues and hung posters “Telling Truth is Forbidden in Belarus”, “No to Pressure on Independent Press!”, “I don’t Want Independent Websites to be Closed”, the website of European Belarus campaign reports.

The actions were held near the world known statues such as Crying Man in Swedish Malmo. The smallest monument in the world set up in Stockholm was also gagged, European Belarus reports.

According to JEF coordinators on Belarus, this enthusiasm of the youth from different countries demonstrates they are not indifferent to violation of fundamental human rights in Belarus and absence of EU’s firm position on the issue.

JEF members urge the European Commission and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton to take a more active part in the foreign policy. They think it’s time that the suspension of sanctions on Lukashenka and his officials was lifted.

On the pictures: actions in Bordeaux and Minsk