Lukashenko urges to suppress all unsanctioned actions

Any unsanctioned events that bother people must be suppressed immediately, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said today during a work meeting with Interior Minister Igor Shunevich, BelTA reports. The president noted that some citizens decided to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of founding of the Belarusian People’s Republic by holding unsanctioned actions despite the fact that they were banned. “They are doing what they want. Everyone must understand that chaos starts from such things,” Lukashenko stressed.

According to the Belarusian leader, no situation existing in the EU countries should be allowed in Belarus. “Do not look to other countries. One should not keep waiting for the EU or the US State Department to make a statement, this is their job. But God save us from repeating the situation western countries are living in now. Look at France: what people are being killed for? Let us have an imperfect political system, but we must secure people’s safety,” Lukashenko continued.

He stressed that there are a lot of civil freedoms in Belarus. “Don’t kick against the prick. But if one does, one wants to show off, well, these are mostly men, they are to suffer,” the president noted.

On March 25, celebrations were held in Minsk and other cities on the 100^th anniversary of the Belarusian People’s Republic foundation. A rally and concert took place in the center of the Belarusian capital; collection of signatures was organized in support of declaring March 25 a national holiday.

Several days before the celebration, arrests of opposition activists and reporters were conducted in Belarus. On March 21, members of the organizing committee for the celebrations were arrested: Viacheslav Sivchik, Maksim Vinyarsky and former presidential contender Vladimir Neklyayev. On March 24, the leader of the Belarusian National Congress Nikolai Statkevich was arrested. An attempt of Statkevich’s supporters to organize a march via Minsk central avenue was suppressed by law enforcers, about 50 people were detained and released several hours later.