Russia, Romania, Ireland and Ukraine: Rallies Mark Twentieth Anniversary of Protesting the Persecution
(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners around the world have been taking part in peaceful marches, rallies and candlelight vigils to commemorate 20 years of peaceful protests of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution. The CCP, as ordered by Jiang Zemin, former head of the communist regime, launched the brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners on July 20, 1999. Falun Gong is a peaceful mind-body cultivation practice based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion- Forbearance.
The Minghui website has confirmed the deaths of more than 4,000 Falun Gong practitioners as a direct result of persecution over the past 20 years. The actual number of deaths is suspected to be much higher, but because of the CCP's tight information blockade, it is difficult to get accurate news from China. Many more practitioners have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith. There is concrete evidence that the CCP is actively harvesting the organs of detained practitioners, and other prisoners of conscience, who are killed on demand to supply China's organ transplant industry.
The following are reports from rallies and other commemorative events in Russia, Romania, Ireland and Ukraine.
Russia: Events in Several Cities Held to Protest the Persecution
Falun Gong practitioners in several cities including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Chelyabinsk and Irkutsk held events to protest the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong.
Falun Gong practitioners in Siberia hold activities in Irkutsk on July 19, 2019.
Individual protest relay in front of the Chinese Embassy in Moscow from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., July 20, 2019.
Practitioners do the exercises together.
People in North Caucasus, Russia, sign the petition protesting the persecution in China.
A practitioner talks with passersby about Falun Gong and the persecution.
Undergraduate student Victoliya signs the petition to protest the persecution in China.
Aishat signs the petition.
Oksana, a Falun Gong practitioner, stated, “These activities are to expose the CCP’s crimes and let people know the truth.”
Individual protest relay in St. Petersburg, July 20, 2019.
Falun Gong practitioners participate by invitation in the City Day parade in Shelekhov, Russia, on July 20, 2019.
Practitioners set up posters and distribute flyers in Chelyabinsk, Russia, on July 20, 2019.
Romania: Events Held to Protest the Persecution
Falun Gong practitioners held a peaceful protest in front of the Chinese Embassy in Romania on July 20, 2019. They set up posters and banners, and distributed fliers.
Protesting the persecution in front of the Chinese Embassy in Romania on July 20, 2019.
The practitioners later went to King Michael I Park beside the embassy. The park is the biggest natural reserve in Bucharest and an important stop for visitors from all over the world.
Demonstrating the exercises in King Michael I Park, formerly called Herăstrău Park.
Talking to tourists about Falun Gong and the persecution.
Signing the petition calling for an end to the persecution.
Ireland: March and Rally
Falun Gong practitioners held a march and rally in downtown Dublin on July 20, 2019. The march protested the persecution and commemorated practitioners who have died as a result of the CCP’s oppression.
The march started from the Garden of Remembrance on O’Connell Street and passed by many Chinese shops. Many spectators watched the march.
Falun Gong practitioners held a march and rally in downtown Dublin, Ireland on July 20, 2019.
Practitioner Zhao Ming who was incarcerated for two years in Tuanhe Forced Labor Camp in Beijing narrates his experience of suffering tortures there.
Falun Gong practitioners hold a rally after the march and talk with passersby about the persecution. Many people wanted to sign the petition calling for an end to the persecution.
Lawyer Albert Rusa speaks during the rally.
Ukraine: Events Held to Protest the Persecution
Falun Gong practitioners in several major cities in Ukraine held events to protest the 20-year persecution. Many people signed the petition calling for an end to the atrocities taking place in China.
On July 19, 2019, Falun Gong practitioners from the seaside city of Odessa held activities in front of the Chinese Consulate to peacefully protest the persecution. The National Guard of Ukraine Commander who came to guard the consulate accepted the book the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party from a practitioner and asked many questions about Falun Gong. He returned a while later and took quite a few fliers and newspapers for his soldiers to read.
Protesting the persecution in China front of the Chinese Consulate in Odessa, Ukraine, on July 19, 2019.
People in Kharkiv, Ukraine, sign the petition calling for an end to the persecution in China.
Events in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, were held to protest the persecution on July 20, 2019. Many people stopped to sign the petition in support of Falun Gong.