Billboards with activists removed from Minsk streets after three hours

The billboards with poet and opposition activist Uladzimir Nyaklyayeu and popular TV personality and artist Yury Zhyhimont advertising Symbal.by, the Minsk-based shop selling Belarusian ethnically marked merchandise, remained only for a few hours in the streets of the Belarusian capital city, Symbal.by owner Pavel Belavus wrote in social media.

"They did not warn us. I phoned the advertising company we had a contract with and they said that higher officials had ordered to remove the billboards. We do not know whether the other billboards [with popular musician Lyavon Volski and world gymnastics champion Melitina Stanyuta that also promote the Belarusian cause] will be installed tomorrow,” the activist wrote.

Belavus said he knew no other details.