The College of Europe in Natolin was pleased to host again an artistic performance by the Free Choir of Belarus (Volny Chor).
This event served as a prelude to the upcoming Study Trip to Podlasie and the meeting with the Belarusian diaspora there. It was open not only to those participating in the trip but to the entire promotion. The performance aimed to shed light on the fate of the persecuted democratic opposition in Belarus, the terror inflicted by the Lukashenka regime, and the tragic situation of Belarusians who are tortured, imprisoned, or forced into exile.
The Free Choir is a community of musicians, artists, and citizens whose voices resonated throughout Belarus during the 2020–21 protests. They organised flash mobs across Minsk - on the steps of the philharmonic and opera house, in shopping malls, train stations, and metro platforms.
Dozens of Choir members were detained, sentenced to 10 to 30 days in prison, or fined heavily for their singing protests. Criminal proceedings were initiated against some, with threats of imprisonment ranging from 8 to 20 years. The masks they wear are not merely part of a stage persona: they are a necessary protection, shielding their identities to avoid reprisals against loved ones in Belarus.
Despite severe repression, the Free Choir lives on—and continues to sing. It has become a powerful symbol of Belarusian protest, carrying the Belarusian song like a flag.
Here is a highlight from one of the Free Choir’s previous performances at Natolin:
The College of Europe in Natolin stands for Free Belarus.