Authorities disrupt fest in honor of Slutsk uprising

The owner of a Minsk club, where anniversary of the historical event was planned to be marked, was ordered to cancel a lease contract by secret service officers. ‘We were going to hold a closed but distinguished party dedicated to Slutsk uprising 1920. We agreed with the club, even paid a part of sum for leasing. Secret service officers found the owner of the club and recommended to stop cooperation with ours. We went to the department of culture of the Leninski district executive committee of Minsk and arranged the matter. But we have learnt from the club today that they were visited again and were demanded to cancel the contract,’ Yury Karetnikau, one of the organizers and member of the For Freedom movement, told to RFE/RL. About hundred of people were invited for the party. They are democratic activists from different regions of Belarus. It was planned that singer Alexander Melnikau, Paunochny Vouk band from Vitsebsk and young musicians of Slutsk and Minsk will play concert at the party.