Activists of women’s youth initiative “Varta” held their first action of solidarity with political prisoners.

The initiative has an aim of promoting citizenship among female Belarusians and consolidating in condition of gross systematic violations of human rights.

On Solidarity Day, June 16, participants of the action gathered near Riga shopping centre at 6:00 pm holding portraits of repression victims in their hands. They stood in silence protesting against unlawful imprisonment of civil activists. Passers-by came closer, looked at faces on the portraits and expressed their support, the press service of European Belarus civil campaign reports.

“The aim of the action is not only expressing our attitude towards the regime, but also reminding the public about gross human rights violations in Belarus, the fact proved by the number of people imprisoned without grounds after December 19. The format and name of the action emphasizes that people sentenced on political motives are not only public leaders, but above all sons, fiancés, husbands, parents,” an activist of the initiative said.