Belarusian opposition leader Viktor Gonchar and his friend businessman Anatoly Krasovsky were kidnapped on September 16th 1999 In Minsk, Belarus. Traditionally, on this day the city of Eindhoven, Netherlands, commemorates those men, together with two other involuntary disappeared prominent Belarusians, Yuri Zakharenko and Dmitry Zavadsky. This year was no exception.

This year the commemoration was really special, because two hundred Eindhoven 15-year old students, who had prepared art objects inspired by the theme of disappearance and freedom, presented them during the ceremony.

Daughter of Anatoly Krasovsky Valeriya Krasovskaya opened the event. Her speech was very personal and touching.

City poet Merel Morre read her poem that she wrote on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the disappearance of Viktor Gonchar and Anatoly Krasovsky.

Poet Leo Messman read his poem "4 trees" that he wrote 7 years ago, when the trees symbolizing the four involuntary disappeared Belarusians were just planted in Eindhoven. This poem is engraved on the memorial board at the site.

Alderwoman Mary-Ann Schreurs and Amnesty International representative Christie Miedema had a speech during the event too.

At the end white baloons were released into the air.

The event is a joint initiative of FNV Bondgenoten, Amnesty International, We Remember and Mission to Minsk.

Official site of the event: www.vierbomen.nl