An estimated 150,000 demonstrators took to the streets yesterday in a continued show of defiance against the regime of current president Alexander Lukashenko.
Over 400 people were arrested during Sunday’s protests around the country, according to the Belarusian Ministry of Internal Affairs, who also confirmed that a policeman in the capital of Minsk had fired a warning shot into the air.
Independent Belarusian media reported that at least three journalists were arrested during the demonstrations, including Arciom Lawa of Belsat and the editor-in-chief of a popular tech portal, Natalia Prawalinska, who was later released.
Lukashenko is set to meet with Russian president Vladimir Putin today in the seaside resort of Sochi to discuss the ongoing civil unrest, as well financial support for Belarus’ banking and finance sector. Putin has previously pledged to support Lukashenko by offering “security assistance” to combat “external military threats.”
Source: PAP, Reuters
Some 100 demonstrators marched through the center of Gdynia yesterday in solidarity with protesters in Minsk, calling on the Belarusian authorities to „Stop Violence Against the People of Belarus.” The campaign, organized by Belarusians living in Trójmiasto, featured participants dressed in black with masks resembling the Belarusian president, and hands stained with red paint to look like blood.
“I’ve been living in Poland for fourteen years. I’ve been a citizen for seven. But in my heart I will always be a Belarusian,” explained Sasha Reznikov, who currently works as an actor from the Musical Theater in Gdynia. For Reznikov, the action is a way “to signal support so that Belarusians feel that we are with them” and encourage protestors to continue their efforts to bring the country closer to Europe.
Footage recorded during the rally will be used to create a video for a Belarusian version of Jacek Kaczmarski’s song “Mury” or “Walls.” The song, which was a popular anti-Communist protest anthem in Poland, has now become the anthem for Belarusians protesting against the Lukashenko regime. The premiere of the music video is set to take place at the end of next week.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Ukrainian filmmaker Iryna Tsilyk’s documentary “The Earth Is Blue as an Orange” recently took home the Grand Prix award at Millennium Docs Against Gravity, the largest documentary film festival in Poland. For the first time, the festival’s jury also handed out awards in the Best Polish Film category, an honor that went to Dorota Proba’s debut feature “Between Us.”
The 17th edition of the festival is being held in six cities across Poland (Warsaw, Wrocław, Katowice, Poznań, Bydgoszcz and Lublin) including Gdynia, where the festival runs from now until September 18.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the second part of the festival will be held online, with over 100 documentaries available for streaming starting September 19. Information and a schedule of this week’s repertoire can be found at www.mdag.pl.
Source: Radio Poland
Coastal areas from Gdańsk Brzeźno east to Mikoszewo will be closed today and tomorrow from 8:00 to 15:00 as part of mine neutralization efforts in the area of the Wisła canal.
The restrictions also apply to people and livestock within a 500-meter “debris shock zone” of the detonations, which covers land and water along the Wisła Śmiała canal.
For more information and a map of the affected areas, visit https://www.umgdy.gov.pl/
Today marks the first day of the “Kręć Kilometry” or “Spin kilometers” city cycling challenge in Gdańsk and the chance for companies, individuals, and schools to earn points and win prizes for commuting by bike.
As part of the city-wide game, participants track kilometers traveled via the free “Activy” app and are awarded points which they can later redeem for prizes like cycling gear, bike service, and restaurant vouchers.
More information about the game can be found on the website www.grarowerowa.pl and on the “Kręć Kilometry dla Gdańska” facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/KrecKilometryDlaGdanska/
Monday will be mostly sunny and warm, with almost no chance of rain and a light breeze coming in from the west. Temperatures will be warmer than yesterday with a high of 24°C, or 75°F, and an overnight low of 13°C or 56°F. More sunshine and even warmer weather are forecast for the first part of the week, with temperatures set to drop on Thursday.
Elizabeth Peck/ako
