Belarusians in America picketed Belarusian embassy in Washington (Photo)

• 17.04.2008, 10:39

Members of the Belarusian diaspora, as well as other Washington dwellers and guests welcomed Pope Benedict XVI, who paid his first visit to the U.S. After pontiff’s motorcade drove down the streets of the U.S. capital, the activists went to the building of the Belarusian embassy, where a traditional action of solidarity with Belarusian political prisoners was held.

Participants of the action carried national white-red-white flags, posters “Freedom for Kazulin” and “Freedom for political prisoners.”

As usual, many passers-by stopped to support the participants of the action. Tourists, attending Washington during the visit of leader of the Roman Catholic Church, were taking pictures of picketers.

Staff of the Belarusian embassy as usual, pretended, it didn’t concern them. This time there wasn’t Belarusian ambassador Mikhail Khvastou among them. He was recalled to Minsk by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus after the U.S. has imposed sanctions against the Belarusian regime.

The participants of the demonstration are going to hold the next action on 16 May.