March 26, Pozirk. About 100 people gathered last night in front of the Georgian Parliament in central Tbilisi to celebrate Belarus’ Freedom Day.
Protesters waved white-red-white flags and signs demanding the release of political prisoners and saying that Russia, a common enemy for Belarus and Ukraine, has occupied both Belarus and Georgia’s territory.
Participants observed a minute of silence in memory of the Kastuś Kalinoŭski regiment fighters killed in action in Ukraine.
Volha Smalanka, director of the human rights organization Lawtrend, told the rally that this is her third Freedom Day in the “relatively safe” Georgia.
She said numerous violations of international human rights law in Belarus have been recognized at the UN level.
“There is no war in the country, but crimes against humanity are committed, and arrests, searches and torture in places of detention are reported daily.
“Four political prisoners have died since the beginning of 2023. There are 1,407 political prisoners behind bars, but we still do not know many others, as well as those who are yet to be arrested,” Smalanka said.
She added that those present are lucky to be free.
“It is up to us whether our state will be free, whether political prisoners will be released,” the human rights activist concluded.
Georgian historian Lasha Bakradze drew parallels between the Belarusian National Republic declaring independence on March 25, 1918, and Georgia adopting the Act of Independence two months later, on May 26.
Today, Georgia celebrates it as a national holiday. “The fact that Freedom Day is celebrated everywhere except Belarus itself is hard proof of the tragic history of the Belarusian people,” said Bakradze.
