6th Pan-European Street Action for a Free and Democratic Belarus!
Free Belarus Action 2010 - Give a Voice to Democracy!
On 16 December 2010, the Young European Federalists (JEF-Europe) are organising their annual pan-European "Free Belarus” Action for the sixth time, taking place simultaneously in over 100 cities all over the world.
ACTION PRESS RELEASE in 
English, Belarusian and Russian
POLITICAL PRESS RELEASE in English, German and French
"Belarus, often described as ‘Europe’s last dictatorship’, is a country where an authoritarian regime still very much rules the land. It is a place where freedom of the press, the establishment of free NGOs and respect for human rights are but distant dreams. While Belarus is on our doorstep, not on the other side of the world, the EU still seems to turn a blind eye to the human rights violations and the lack of democracy. By simultaneously gagging statues in over a hundred cities in Europe and the world, the “Free Belarus” activists demand more democracy in solidarity with the Belarusian Citizens who have their fundamental rights and freedoms repressed by the regime,“ explains JEF-Europe President Philippe Adriaenssens.
In the run-up to the 19 December elections, observers are already raising concerns about the uncontrollable early-voting system, the unequal access to the media and the fact that there is no guarantee that elections will be conducted in a transparent manner, as the opposition is clearly underrepresented in the electoral commissions. JEF-Europe demands a targeted EU engagement in Belarus in order to ensure free and fair elections, respect for human rights, freedom of the press and NGOs and freedom of speech for all citizens and not just Lukashenko.
"The European Union must engage with the Belarusian authorities to bring the electoral laws – and their implementation – in line with international standards and abolish the death penalty. The EU should also advocate for free media and support civil society so as to guarantee the freedom of expression, assembly and political association. In particular young people should be able to study in the EU and travel to international events without needing visas whereas the EU should lift the current suspension of the visa ban for the regime’s high officials until the internal situation improves.“ stresses Philippe Adriaenssens.
Daniela Vidaicu, Free Belarus Action coordinator, says: “Belarus and the European Union share much more than just a thousand kilometers of common border. Our cultural and economic ties go back many centuries. That is why the EU should act to support democracy and the European development of Belarus. That is why JEF-Europe is organising the “Free Belarus” Action for the sixth time to support and promote real democracy for youth, civil society, the media and all Citizens."
FREE BELARUS ACTION
Who: JEF-Europe (Young European Federalists) and partners.
What: Street action to gag statues with banners reading: "Give a Voice to Democracy – Free Belarus!”
Where: Simultaneously in OVER 100 CITIES across Europe and the world.
When: 16 December 2010. This year, JEF is organising the action right before the Belarusian presidential elections of 19 December, already heavily criticised for being unfair and unfree.
OVER 100 CITIES CONFIRMED!
- Bratislava [SK]
- Nitra [SK]
- Presov [SK]
- Tren [SK]
- Brussels [BE]
- Ghent [BE]
- Leuven [BE]
- Msida [MT]
- Berlin [DE]
- Lille [FR]
- Eindhoven [NL]
- Chisinau [MD]
- Cuxhaven [DE]
- Gothenburg [SE]
- Bordeaux [FR]
- Zagreb [HR]
- Maastricht [NL]
- San Pedro - California [US]
- Torun [PL]
- Chemnitz [DE]
- Pescara [IT]
- Paris [FR]
- Milan [IT]
- Heraclion [GR]
- Tivoli [IT]
- St. Petersburg [RU]
- Bonn [DE]
- Cologne [DE]
- Zurich [CH]
- Geneva [CH]
- Nyon [CH]
- Berne [CH]
- Fribourg [CH]
- Riga [LV]
- Bucharest [RO]
- Wroclaw [PL]
- Derventa [BiH]
- Sarajevo [BiH]
- Hamburg [DE]
- Turin [IT]
- Pisa [IT]
- Nimes [FR]
- Toulouse [FR]
- Bremen [DE]
- Helsinki [FI]
- Tirane [AL]
- Athens [GR]
- Dix Hills [US]
- Vilnius [LT]
- Florence [IT]
- Erba [IT]
- Pavia[IT]
- Halberstadt [DE]
- Podgorica [ME]
- Granada [ES]
- Agios Nikolaos [GR]
- Thessaloniki [GR]
- Komotini [GR]
- Porto [PO]
- Bath [UK]
- Dortmund [DE]
- Munster [DE]
- Wiesbaden [DE]
- Orebro [SE]
- Stockholm [SE]
- Gislaved [SE]
- Prague [CZ]
- Dunedin [US - FLorida]
- Ottawa [CA]
- Potsdam [DE]
- Ljubljana [SI]
- Le Havre [FR]
- Skopje [MK]
- Minsk [BY]
- Skofja Loka [SI]
- Valletta [MT]
- Koeln [DE]
...AND STILL COUNTING!
PATRONS OF THE FREE BELARUS ACTION
Elisabeth SCHROEDTER is a German MEP. She represents the Alliance 90' and she is member of the European Greens Parliamentary Group. She is the Vice-chair of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs. She is also member of the Delegation for relations with Belarus and of the Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly.
http://www.elisabeth-schroedter.de
Catherine SOULLIE is a French MEP. She was elected in the constituency Massif Central/Centre. As member of UMP (Union pour un Mouvement Populaire) she is part of EPP (European People's Party). She sits in the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, in the Delegation for relations with Belarus and in the Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly.
http://catherinesoullie.wordpress.com/
Christofer FJELLNER is a memb
er of the Swedish Moderate Party (Moderata samlingspartiet) part of the European People's Party - European Democrats group. He sits on the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade. He is also a member of the delegation for relations with Belarus, a substitute for the delegation for relations with Iran and a substitute for the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety.
Jacek PROTASIEWICZ is a Member of the European Parliament for the Platforma Obywatelska (Poland), part of the European People's Party and sits on the European Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs.Protasiewicz is the Chair of the Delegation for relations with the Belarus and a substitute for the Committee on Foreign Affairs.