The anniversary action started not very cheerfully. At 6 pm, there have already been a few special police squad’s buses near the National library.
When first participants of a flash-mob appear with pillows in their hands, they were met by policemen and were put into special buses at once. Police officers verified personal belongings of many inhabitants of Minsk. A total number of arrested is 70 people.
The very idea of non-political mass action gets the authorities frightened. Arrests were done at the nearest metro station. Policemen put people in the special buses for the very fact of pillow presence in their hands. The parents and relatives of arrested people gathered near the National library with the requirements of releasing the “prisoners”. The answer to these requirements was very simple. Arrested youth was delivered to the nearest police station. There were a special police squad only who left on the square near the Library to observe the potential resumption.
Former political prisoner Andrey Kim, one of the organizers of this flash-mob action, characterized the situation: “I didn’t even expect this! This is a complete idiocy! I thought that people need psychological help. But now I’m sure they must be in a soundproof room like in a mental hospital”.
Garry Pogonyailo, a lawyer, commented that two people can fight with a pillows be mutually agreed wherever they want. Moreover, police do not have a right to disperse them. However, those words were powerless.
On 13th of July, Minsk city executive committee refused the request of “Gistoryka” YSO to organize the action in honor of 600th anniversary of Battle of Grunwald. There was a standard answer received from the city authorities: “Since the request of YSO “Gistoryka” mismatch the requirements of part 5 article 5 of the “Mass actions” law, Minsk city executive committee do not allow holding the action on the square near the National library.”
The first action “Pillow fights”, organized in honor of 599th anniversary of Battle of Grunwald, was held in Minsk on 15th of July 2009 without authorities’ permission. In two months, on 8th of September 2009, the second pillow combat took place in honor of 495 of Battle of Orsha. There were about 400 participants.
