On September 16 1999 politician Viktor Gonchar and businessman Anatoly Krasovsky were subjected to involuntary disappearance. In Eindhoven, Netherlands, commemoration ceremony took place to mark the 13th anniversary of their disappearance on September 16 2012. Participants of the event also held an action of support with Belarusian prisoner of consciousness Dmitry Dashkevich.

The ceremony started at 14:00 local time with the minute of silence as tribute to Oleg Bebenin who died on September 2004 2012 under undefined circumstances.

Wife of involuntary disappeared Anatoly Krasovsky Irina Krasovskaya was the first to hold speech. She said that relatives of the disappeared Belarusians didn't know where their bodies had been buried, and that it is so important — to have a place symbolizing the eternal life of the lost loved ones.

Daughter of Anatoly Krasovsky Valeriya read in Belarusian poem of Vladimir Neklyaev In Memory of the Disappeared which the poet wrote especially to the date.

Translation of the poem into Dutch was read by Dutch poet Leo Mesman. Leo Mesman also read his poem Four Trees which he dedicated to Yury Zakharenko, Viktor Gonchar, Anatoly Krasovsky and Dmitry Zavadsky in 2008.

City municipality repersentative Hans van Zijl in his speech was talking about the relations between the twin-cities of Minsk and Eindhoven and expressed his hope that one day trees in memory of the disappeared would be planted in Minsk too.

Chairman of the presidium of the executive committee of the city council Jan Marinus Wiersma talked about his personal experience of communication with the Belarusian authorities, in particular about the presidential elections of 2001 after which he became persona non grata in Belarus. He said that the truth about the disappeared Belarusian would only be revealed when the last dictator of Europe disappears from the political scene of Belarus.

Amnesty International representative Christie Midema focused in her speech on the political prisoners of Belarus, particularly on Ales Byalatski and Dmitry Dashkevich, both prisoners of consciousness.

The speech of Free Theatre directror Natalia Kolyada was very emotional. Natalia was talking about the experience of the Belarusian children who lost their fathers imprisoned, dead, disappeared... Her speech caused tears on the eyes of many of those present on the event.

The city poet of Eindhoven Piet van den Boom read his poem Scary Tale which he wrote to this notorious date.

At the end of the action its participants launhced white balloons into the sky. Afterwards they signed postcards to Dmitry Dashkevich who being already in prison for 1.5 years, was sentenced to yet another year of imprisonment. Participants also signed letter to the Minister of Internal Affairs and Attorney General of Belarus with the demand to release Dmitry Dashkevich immediately.

All the participants of the event got a souvenir — a booklet with the poems written in the years 2008-2012 and dedicated to the involuntary disappeared Belarusians.

The event was organized by Amnesty International, FNV Mondiaal, Mission to Minsk and We Remember.

On the images (top to bottom):

Irina Krasovskaya (We Remember)

Christie Midema (Amnesty International)

Piet van den Boom

Natalia Kolyada (Free Theatre)

Participants sign the solidarity postcards to Dmitry Dashkevich

Participants release white balloons into the air

Leo Mesman presenting the poetry booklet to Irina Krasovskaya and Valeriya Krasovskaya