Ordinary cynicism: the Immortal Regiment was banned in Minsk due to coronavirus
The Minsk City Executive Committee did not allow public activists to hold the “Immortal Regiment” action on May 9.
The authorities motivated their refusal with the “threat of the spread of coronavirus,” a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“In order to prevent and minimize the spread of acute respiratory infections, including those caused by COVID-19,” the Minsk City Executive Committee recommends refraining from mass events. Please note that the events of the “Immortal Regiment” campaign in the Russian Federation this year will be held online, including in the mode of “social distancing” and “self-isolation” under the general motto “The Immortal Regiment at Home,” officials wrote in their response. .
At the same time, the city authorities refer to their own decision of April 7 No. 1069, which prescribes measures to prevent the disease.
The response of the Minsk City Executive Committee is an example of blatant cynicism. Today in the Belarusian capital there is a rehearsal for tomorrow's parade, in which hundreds of people are involved. Tomorrow it is expected that 11 thousand spectators will gather in the stands.
At the same time, officials prohibit the “Immortal Regiment”, the estimated number of which the organizers estimated at 5 thousand.
In reality, much fewer people would have gathered, since the Belarusian authorities have been marginalizing the people’s initiative for years, contrasting it with its official counterpart - the “Belarus Remembers” action.
“Yes, this is some kind of holiday. The “Immortal Regiment” campaign was banned in Belarus. That is, they weren’t forced into a small area like before, but they were stupidly banned. That’s really bad trolling,” opposition political scientist Igor Tyshkevich rejoices in his Telegram channel.
Meanwhile, the opposition Youth Bloc held a rally today to warn against holding a parade during the epidemic. Young people in masks with state flags in their hands carried a fake coffin along the main street.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.