Slovakian Diplomat: We Witnesses Intimidation of People

“Belarusian people want to live in Europe not only geographically; they want to share European values, and the European march demonstrates that”, -- Slovakian charge d’affaires to Belarus Lubomir Rehak commented for BelaPAN the events in Minsk.

According to him, by the action the Belarusian community expressed “support to the impulses shown by the Belarusian government when it spoke about the wish to become closer to Europe”. L. Rehak pointed out, “we can’t say the event is happening without obstacles. During several weeks we witnessed intimidation of people, arrests and detentions for distribution of information about the European March.”

Lubomir Rehak paid attention to the slogans which appeared above the crowd during the rally near the Academy of Sciences: “It’s easier to walk the tightrope than to receive a visa to Europe”, “I got no visa! What a shame!”, and “Europe, let’s be friends!”. “The banners were taken out of the trunks of the cars in a parking lot where the only the cars of state mass media and police cars were allowed to park”, L. Rehak said.

Besides the Slovakian diplomat, the European March was observed by the ambassadors of the United States, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Sweden, France, and Germany.