Slonim district: commemoration of Valovich takes place under surveillance
Every summer Slonim dwellers commemorate one of the
heads of the uprising against the Russian Empire, Mikhail Valovich, and his
comrades in arms. On 1 July about 50 people from Slonim and Zelva regions gathered
in the village of
Parechcha where a memorial
sign had been installed.
The event was opened by the head of the Slonim branch of the Belarusian
Christian Democracy Ivan Bedka. After him, floor was taken by representatives
of other parties and NGOs – Ivan Sheha, Barys Kuchynski, Mikalai Ratkevich and
Mikalai Barysik. The speakers reminded about the uprising of 1830-1831, spoke
about the present political situation in Belarus and expressed their concern
with the destruction of the Belarusian language and politically motivated
arrests. They also mentioned the upcoming parliamentary election and called the
people to boycott it.
A white “Zhiguli” car with number plates 5536 IA-4 watched the action from the
beginning till the end. People in mufti, who were sitting there, shot
everything on video.