{"id":150376,"date":"2025-08-09T21:41:28","date_gmt":"2025-08-09T18:41:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/150376\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","slug":"belarusian-diaspora-in-vilnius-marks-five-years-of-resistance-and-hope","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/150376\/","title":{"rendered":"Belarusian diaspora in Vilnius marks five years of resistance and hope"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (Pozirk)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

August 9, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Belarusian diaspora members have taken to Vilnius streets to mark the anniversary of the mass protests that started on this day after the disputed presidential election in Belarus five years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rally in the Luki\u0161k\u0117s Square in the center of the Lithuanian capital gathered about 200 people. They came with opposition white-red-white flags, or the flags of Lithuania, Ukraine and the European Union. Some were holding posters and banners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rally hosts recalled that in 2020, supporters of change were filled with dignity and solidarity, and went out to say \u201cno\u201d to Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s regime. The Belarusians of Vilnius who have come to the rally still hold these feelings, the hosts stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Noting that many of the participants had been imprisoned, the hosts reminded the crowd that thousands of people remained in captivity. \u201cBut the fact that we are here today proves that we are thinking about them, remembering them, and will be freeing them,\u201d they asserted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A former political prisoner and blogger, Volha Takar\u010duk, took the mic. to assure those gathered that the protests were not in vain, stating that 2020 gave all Belarusians \u201ca chance for a better future, for the future of new generations\u2014children and grandchildren.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI ask you not to give up,\u201d she told the rally. \u201cWe must free everyone who is currently in prison. We must liberate our country so that we can return home, so that we can begin to build our new Belarus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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