English

Opposition youths stage unsanctioned pillow fights to mark anniversary of 1514 Orsha Battle

Some 35 people were arrested in Minsk on Wednesday evening after young opposition activists attempted to stage an unsanctioned pillow fight to mark the anniversary of the 1514 Orsha Battle, in which the army of the Grand Duchy of Litva defeated a superior Russian force, BelaPAN reports.

About 100 youths gathered in the square behind the Belarusian State Philharmonic Hall at 7 p.m., bringing along their pillows.

Andrey Kim, an organizer, announced that the event was patriotic, non-violent and non-political and asked participants to divide into two groups to reenact the battle between the two armies, symbolized by red and white ribbons.

Policemen soon arrived at the scene, prompting Mr. Kim to declare the event finished and call on participants to leave. Nevertheless, police did not allow the youths to disperse and began grabbing them.

Those arrested were taken to local police stations where they were fingerprinted, had their passports checked and were ordered to give written accounts. Journalists were told at one of the stations that police had been sent to the scene after a citizen had complained about having been beaten up with pillows.

Between 70 and 80 of those who escaped the crackdown marched to Gorky Park and staged a pillow fight there. Between 30 and 40 people then made their way to Nyamiha Street and held one more pillow fight.

In photos:
2-5 – Policemen arrest pillow fighters;
6-9 – The pillow fight in Gorky Park.