MINSK -- Youth activists in Minsk have held a so-called "orange" protest against the government of President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, RFE/RL's Belarus Service reports.
About a dozen protesters gathered on November 19 in the center of the Belarusian capital wearing orange surgical masks, in a reference to the 2004 Orange Revolution in neighboring Ukraine.
The protesters held signs stating "The Remedy for Lukashism," referring to Lukashenka’s government, and distributed booklets explaining the historical national symbols of Belarus.
Artur Finkevich, the leader of the Youth of Belarus movement, told RFE/RL that the goal of the action was to show ordinary people that "Lukashism is a disease of Belarusian society that is as dangerous as swine flu."
He said the activists tried to explain to passersby that there are youth organizations in the country trying to resist "Lukashism." Finkevich added that similar actions will be held in other cities and towns across the country.