Belarusian LGBT activists join crowds in protests

MINSK, Belarus — Thousands of women marched through the capital of Belarus on Saturday calling for the resignation of the authoritarian president, and university students demonstrated against the detention of classmates.

For the first time in the demonstrations, supporters of LGBT rights appeared with rainbow flags in the women’s march in Minsk, an indication that opponents of President Alexander Lukashenko are becoming bolder.

“LGBT people are calling for freedom. We are tired of living in a dictatorship where we simply didn’t exist,” Anna Bredova, one of the rainbow flag bearers, said by phone.

Although homosexuality was decriminalized in Belarus in 1994, stigmatization of it is strong. Authorities haven’t allowed any LGBT organization legal registry; same-sex marriage is prohibited.

About 5,000 women took part in the march, according to the human rights organization Viasna. Police followed the march, but no detentions were reported.

Marches and demonstrations by women have become a frequent feature of the protests.

Earlier in the day, hundreds of students formed human chains to demonstrate against the detention of students at the State Linguistics University. Viasna said about 20 of the students were detained Saturday.

Lukasheno opponents have formed a Coordination Council to drive the protests and push for a transition of power.

On Saturday, one of its most prominent members, Olga Kovalkova, surfaced in Poland after being jailed in Belarus for organizing protests. She told reporters that police came to her in jail during the night and said she could either leave the country or face a long term in prison. Masked police then drove her to the border, she said.