100 years on from the October Revolution in Belarus: commemorations, rallies, and reenactment of 1917 events

The October Revolution was, without exaggeration, one of the key events of the 20th century. It changed the course of history, the future of many countries and millions of people. Belarus, part of the Russian Empire back in those days, was directly involved in all the epoch-making changes and seismic shocks of the revolution.

A hundred years later, people across the country commemorated the events of 1917 as the Day of the October Revolution stills remains an official holiday in Belarus. Meetings, rallies, ceremonies to lay wreaths and flowers in Minsk, oblast and district centers traditionally took place near monuments to Vladimir Lenin, the October Revolution leader. The older generation and young people – members of the Communist Party of Belarus, the public associations Belaya Rus and the BRSM Youth Union, everybody who are into the history and ideas of that critical time – gathered under red banners and placards near the monuments.