Belarus’ opposition yesterday used the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster to protest against the government’s policies on the world’s worst civilian nuclear disaster. The BBC reports that six thousand turned out to the annual “Chernobyl Way” march, organized primarily by the United Opposition Party and youth groups Zubr and Young Front.
The opposition takes the occasion of the anniversary each year to press for democratic change and highlight the government’s irresponsible Chernobyl policies. Many are angered by government plans to resettle the affected area, termed “the Zone,” says the BBC, as well as by the government’s silence on the catastrophe’s true effects.
This year’s protest carried with it increased significance coming as it did a month after government forces violently suppressed election related protests on Belarus’ Liberty Day. The large turn out—consisting mostly of young people—indicates the opposition’s relevance despite its crushing defeat in elections last month. Speaking to supporters at the protests yesterday, opposition leader Aleksandr Milinkevich vowed to force President Aleksandr Lukashenko from power within two years, RFE/RL reports. "We know how to do this. There is no need to wait for five years for us, we will eliminate the regime and will oust Lukashenko [sic] from power. This is our goal. We will overcome!"
For his part in organizing the meeting, Milinkevich was arrested and sentenced to fifteen days in prison. Other opposition leaders including Labor Party head Aleksandr Bukhvostau, Leader of the Belarusian Popular Front Vintsuk Vyachorka, and Syarhey Kalyakin of the Communist Party were also arrested Charter 97 reports.
As in the past, citizens from neighboring countries took part in the protest in Belarus or showed their solidarity at home. Belarusian customs officials turned away activists from the Union of Ukrainian Youth traveling to Minsk for the protests, says Charter 97. Still, the United Opposition website claims that members from the Ukrainian Student Brotherhood “stood shoulder to shoulder with Belarusian youth in the fight for Democracy.” Solidarity protests also took place in Russia, Europe and the United States.
The opposition is purportedly planning for protests to take place on 1 May. Activists are fervently discussing plans for events in Live Journal Political communities, where much of the grass-roots protest planning takes place.