Protesters erected a tent city on October Square in Minsk, persisting in their refusal to accept the results of Monday’s elections. Most demonstrators now accept that victory will not come soon, but for the dedicated few, there is no option but to continue.
While there were fewer people at last night’s event it was much better organized. Milinkevich’s team erected a sound system in order to better communicate with the crowd. In between speakers—which ranged from opposition political figures to poets, musicians and professors—organizers played Soviet-era dissident rock.
Participants in the protest were also better prepared. They brought hot tea and coffee, sandwiches, extra blankets and even spare socks, scarves and sweaters to pass around to those having difficulty enduring the freezing temperatures.
Contrary to state media reports, which have portrayed protesters as unruly teenagers, there were many adults and even pensioners in the crowd. There were also people who had arrived from different cities. Even foreigners from surrounding countries and as far away as Azerbaijan, arrived to show their solidarity with the protesters. International media were also present.
The tent city sprang up around ten o’clock. It grew throughout the night from about one or two to as many as fifteen tents. While miniscule in comparison to the tent city erected on Kiev’s Maidan a year and a half ago, Belarus’ small tent village served as an important morale booster for the small amount of protesters that lasted through the night.
Those not holed up in tents created a human chain a two to three rows deep in order to keep out unwanted provocateurs. If too much silence elapsed some one would belt out “Zhive Belarus!” and the group, which numbered only a few hundred by early morning, went wild cheering and yelling. Even by sunrise the protester’s cries could be heard three or four blocks away.
As with Monday night, police presence was minimal, despite a few thuggish KGB agents who milled around looking very annoyed. For the most part, protesters were left alone so long as they remained in the square.
A number were arrested when they went in search of bathrooms and more supplies. Not to be daunted, some of the protestors erected a tent around an open manhole to serve as a toilet. Food was more of a problem. At one point someone tried to throw food from a moving taxi, but police intercepted the vehicle. Still, by one or two in the morning food and drink began streaming in as police began to withdraw.
While some have had to leave October Square for work this morning, many more are still camped out. It has begun to snow heavily which is a problem, but it is doubtful that the protesters will leave unless forced to. As of now it is unclear what the authorities’ plans are.