Time capsule ceremony and commemorative rally for Chernobyl victims

On 26 April 1996, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko took part in a commemorative rally timed to the 10th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The rally in Minsk's Friendship of Peoples Park drew over 25,000 people – residents of Minsk and all other regions of Belarus, public associations, diplomats. They all gathered in the park to pay tribute to the victims of the disaster.

The event began with a time capsule ceremony. The memorial message was signed by Aleksandr Lukashenko and Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk. The capsule with the message was placed into the wall of a chapel that was under construction in the park. This chapel was to commemorate the victims of the Chernobyl disaster. The head of state emphasized the importance of protecting health of children and liquidators and pledged assistance in addressing social problems of displaced people. At the end of his speech, Aleksandr Lukashenko called on all politicians to unite to solve the Chernobyl-related problems. “Only together we can survive and save our people,” the president said. “We have the same land and the Fatherland, and our children live together on this land."