Opposition recalls 1996 referendum with rally in central Minsk - in pictures
An unauthorized street action took place in the evening of November 24 in Freedom Square (Plosca Svabody) to recall the notorious referendum initiated by Aliaksandr Lukashenka 20 years ago. The referendum, with resuts never internationally recognized, extended Lukashenka's term in president's office for 2.5 years.
Over 100 people attended the opposition-staged rally. The organizers - ex-political prisoner and presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich and another former presidential contender Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu spoke about the threat to the independence of Belarus and called the 1996 referendum 'an anti-Constitutional coup.' The demonstrators also observed a minute of silence in memory of the opposition politicians Viktar Hanchar and Yury Zakharanka who went missing without a trace in 1999.
The rally lasted for about 30 minutes. There were no detentions. The police did not draw administrative offence statements, either.
