Public buildings and cultural institutions in Poland are set to be lit up in the white-red-white colours of the historical Belarusian flag in an initiative dubbed #LightForBelarus.
The project was started by Poland’s Ministry of Culture, the country’s National Centre for Culture and the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.
Many Belarusians on Thursday mark Freedom Day, an unofficial holiday celebrated on March 25 to commemorate the declaration of independence by the Belarusian Democratic Republic on that day in 1918.
Freedom Day is “a holiday not recognized by the government of Alexander Lukashenko, but remembered by Belarusian society, in particular by groups that bring together the independent democratic opposition,” Poland’s National Centre for Culture said on its website.
Among those who are expected to take part in the #LightForBelarus initiative are many large Polish national institutions such as the Royal Castle in Warsaw, the Wawel Royal Castle, the National Library, the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk, as well as local cultural centres.
Also on Thursday, Polish and Belarusian star acts will perform at a “Playing for Belarus” concert.
The organizers say the event will be a show of support for the people of Belarus in their quest for a free and democratic country.
Among well-known Polish performers expected to take to the stage will be Krystyna Prońko, Katarzyna Cerekwicka and Piotr Cugowski.
The concert will include songs written by by Poland’s legendary bard Czesław Niemen, who was born and raised in what is today Belarus. Also set to take to the stage is Belarusian indie pop ensemble NaviBand.
The concert will be held online at 8:15pm Polish time.
Mass demonstrations in Belarus have been demanding the resignation of veteran strongman Alexander Lukashenko since an August 9 presidential election his opponents say was rigged.
Critics accuse Lukashenko of maintaining power by holding fraudulent elections, jailing opponents and muzzling independent media.
(jh/pk)
Source: IAR