People from all over the world and the Belarusian diaspora supported the Global Picket of Solidarity with Belarus.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya announced May 29 as the Global Picket of Solidarity with Belarus. World politicians, journalists, activists joined the offline and online actions. Belarusian leader gave a speech at a picket in Vilnius.
«The last year has been very difficult for all of us. But it has happened because we have stopped believing that someone will solve our problems for us. I do not doubt that we will continue our journey, no matter how much effort and time it takes. Even if some consider us idealists, the struggle for a free Belarus itself is the contribution of each of us to the country that we leave to our children».
The event was attended by people from over 90 cities in 30 countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Italy, Lithuania, New Zealand, Poland, the United States, France, and South Korea. You can look at the piquet map with photos of each on https://dze.chat/.
- Cities and countries:
Australia: Adelaide, Sydney, Perth.
Austria: Vienna.
Belgium: Brussels.
Czech Republic: Prague.
Denmark: Copenhagen.
Finland: Helsinki.
France: Ancy, Bordeaux, Lyon, Nice, Paris.
Georgia: Batumi.
Germany: Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Hanover, Dresden, Jena, Leipzig, Munster, Munich, Nuremberg, Saarbrucken, Frankfurt am Main, Stuttgart.
Ireland: Dundalk, Dublin, Cork.
Israel: Tel Aviv.
Italy: Bologna, Milan, Rome, Padua, Palermo.
Latvia: Riga.
Lithuania: Vilnius, Klaipeda, Rukla.
Montenegro: Budva.
Netherlands: Amsterdam.
New Zealand: Auckland.
Norway: Oslo.
Poland: Bialystok, Belsko Biala, Bydgoszcz, Biala Podlaska, Warsaw, Wroclaw, Gdansk, Gdynia, Rzeszow, Zelena Gura, Katowice, Krakow, Lodz, Poznan, Torun, Szczecin.
Portugal: Lisbon, is. San Miguel.
Republic of Korea: Seoul.
Russia: Moscow, Saint Petersburg.
Spain: Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga, Seville, Torrevieja.
Sweden: Gothenburg, Ludwika, Stockholm.
UK: London, Manchester.
USA: Atlanta, Boston, Washington, Denver, New York, San Diego, Seattle, Philadelphia, Houston, Chicago.
- Politics and organizations:
The Foreign Minister of Norway Ine Eriksen Soreide joined the Global Picket of Solidarity with Belarus and expressed support for the courageous struggle of the Belarus people for democracy and human rights. She also said that «Foreign Minister #EriksenSoreide joins in on the Global Picket of Solidarity to show support for the courageous struggle of the #Belarus people for #Democracy and #HumanRights. #StandWithBelarus @Tsihanouskaya».
Minister for European Affairs of Ireland Thomas Byrne tweeted: «Today is the Global Picket of Solidarity with Belarus, we give total support for democracy in #Belarus, fundamental human rights and freedom belong to the people of Belarus, and they must set their destiny. #ЖывеБеларусь #StandWithBelarus @Tsihanouskaya».
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania published a statement on Twitter: «On the Global Picket of Solidarity with Belarus, we express unequivocal support for the democratization of #Belarus, whose people must be granted the fundamental human rights and freedom, and can choose their destiny. #ЖывеБеларусь #StandWithBelarus».
Riga Mayor Martin Stakis published a photo of white, red, and white flags on the building of the Riga City Council. In the Stockholm municipality of Noka, as well as in Bialystok, white, red, and white flags were raised as part of the Global Picket of Solidarity with Belarus.
The Authorities of Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Macedonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, United States of America, Switzerland, Estonia issued a joint statement within the Coalition for Media Freedom, condemning the regime’s hijacking of the plane, demanding the release of Roman Protasevich and all arrested journalists in Belarus.
Michal Szczerba, deputy of the Polish Sejm posted on Twitter a number of photos of the events in the Polish capital: «Minsk — Warszawa wspolna sprawa. Warszawianki i warszawiacy solidarni z Bialorusia! Uwolnic Romana Protasiewicza i wszystkich wiezniow politycznych! #StandWithBelarus #FreeProtasevich // «Minsk – Warsaw together. Warsaw are in solidarity with Belarus! Freedom for Raman Pratasevich and all political prisoners!».
American Congressman Bill Keating tweeted a statement describing the current situation in Belarus, condemning the actions of the Lukashenka regime and the repression of TUT.by, independent media and journalists, called on ICAO to investigate the hijacking of a Ryanair aircraft to detain Raman Pratasevich, and supported the Belarusian diaspora: «Today marks the first anniversary since non-violent protests began in Belarus, calling for free and fair elections. In honor of this day, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has called for a Global Picket of Solidary. In support, I am releasing the following statement».
Nils Schmid, a deputy of the Bundestag, stated: «Siarhei Tsikhanouski, husband of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, has been behind bars for one year. We are on the side of the democratic movement in Belarus and demand the release of Tsikhanouski, Pratasevich, Sapega, Kolesnikova, and all political prisoners».
MEP Kati Piri noted that «Belarusians need the support of the international community» and shared an interview in which Ms.Piri discussed what support the Netherlands and the whole EU can provide to Belarus.
United States Ambassador to Belarus Julie Fischer expressed support for the Belarusian people and noted that the solution to the crisis should be the release of political prisoners and genuine dialogue that would lead to new, fair, and transparent presidential elections in Belarus.
The Lithuanian ambassador to the Netherlands, Vidmantas Purlis, the Austrian politician Cathy Schneeberger, a French civil servant, and writer Nicolas Tenzer, also joined the pickets in Europe.
Dutch Party Section Volt Nederland noted on Twitter: «The people of Belarus have been resisting the dictator for over a year, despite arrests, torture, and violence. They stand firm. We must not abandon them. EU: stand up for the protection of human rights and freedom in Belarus».
The largest party of the European Parliament, the EPP Group, stated: «Despite the tyranny and criminal methods used by the regime, the Belarusian opposition continues to fight for democracy. Today Global Picket of Solidarity with Belarus. Give them strength! Long Live Belarus!»
