March 25, Pozirk. Several hundred Belarusians took part in a Djeń Voli (Freedom Day) demonstration at the center of Vilnius on March 25 to mark the 108th anniversary of the proclamation of the independence of the Belarusian People’s Republic (BNR).
Former political prisoner Pavał Sieviaryniec, who chaired the organizing committee for celebrating this year’s Freedom Day, called for a minute’s silence “in memory of those who gave their lives for your and our freedom.” Participants cheered loudly and chanted “Long Live Belarus!” as he made a speech, culminating in a pledge to “fight for the freedom of our mother Belarus all our life if necessary.”
Other speakers included Lithuanian MPs Žygimantas Pavilionis, Tomas Tomilinas and Ruslanas Baranovas.
Following the rally, participants marched along Vilnius streets to an improvised memorial to victims of politically motivated persecution in Belarus in front of the building of the Belarusian embassy.
