Belarusians living in Lithuania gathered in Vilnius on Sunday to mark the sixth anniversary of mass protests against President Alexander Lukashenko’s rule, with participants reaffirming their support for democracy in their country and Ukraine.
The commemoration began with a rally in Cathedral Square that drew about 100 people. Former political prisoners, politicians, civil society representatives and supporters of Belarus spoke about the country’s struggle for democracy.
Participants carried Belarus’ historical white-red-white flags, chanted “Long Live Belarus!” and sang songs that have become symbols of Belarusian solidarity.
Many of the Belarusians attending said they still believe the political situation in their country can change, although their optimism has faded since 2020.
“I am not as optimistic as I was six years ago,” said Anatoliy Khinevich, a 32-year-old IT specialist who spent two and a half years in prison for participating in protests.
