Other events in Baltic States

Belarusians living in Lithuania have started celebrating 100 years of their country's statehood in Vilnius, reports LETA/BNS.

To mark the occasion, a conference Lithuania and Belarus: 100 Years Ago and Now is held at the Lithuanian parliament on Friday.

A photograph exhibition and a concert are planned for Saturday, with a ceremony to honor figures of the People's Republic of Belarus to take place at the Rasu Cemetery and a local church on Sunday. A solemn reception will take place at the Vilnius Town Hall on Sunday evening.

On March 25 of 1918, the Belarusian congress declared separation of the People's Republic of Belarus from Russia and establishment of a free and independent state, which existed until Jan. 25 of 1919, the date when the country was occupied by the Soviets.

According to a press release from the Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House, this is the first year over the recent history of Belarus when the country's administration sanctioned events to celebrate the occasion.