John Shimkus: “On Sunday, March 25, approximately 7,000 citizens of Belarus gathered together in commemoration of the 89th anniversary…”

“On Sunday, March 25, approximately 7,000 citizens of Belarus gathered together in commemoration of the 89th anniversary of the short-lived Belarusian National Republic, which was formed on March 25, 1918, when Belarusians proclaimed their independence from the Russian empire. Unfortunately, only 10 months later, the Red Army entered Minsk, quashed this democracy and set up the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic. On Sunday, the brave men and women of Belarus gathered together to commemorate their ancestors' drive for democracy and independence almost 90 years ago and express their own desire to live in free and democratic Belarus. This group had planned to assemble in October Square in central Minsk to start their peaceful march towards the National Academy of Sciences. However, participants arrived at this public square to find it blocked by riot police, and trucks and busses were forced to split into several groups. One group decided to march to the Sport Palace and reassemble there. When they got to that destination, they were met by a large number of policemen warning that if they did not leave within the next 5 minutes, special measures would be taken against them. Several minutes later, the first clash between the police and protesters took place, with several people beaten and arrested. Former presidential candidate Aleksander Milinkevich and his wife were among those hit and knocked to the ground.”