If you want to live, you should be able to fight
13:41, Iryna Khalip, “Novaya Gazeta” — Politics
The protest rally of entrepreneurs in Minsk last Thursday lasted for more than 5 hours.
The meeting has become a logical continuation of the strike of entrepreneurs, which started on January 1, on the day when the presidential decree No. 760 came into force. Under this decree self-employed entrepreneurs do not have a right to hire workers any more.
On Thursday 3,000 have gathered on October Square. The leader of the public association “Perspektiva” that defends interests of entrepreneurs Anatol Shumchanka announced that he goes to the presidential administration for negotiations. The Administration is situated right opposite of October Square, on the other side of Independence Avenue.
Shumchanka met the head of the main economic department Ina Myadzvedzeva. Mrs. Myadzvedzeva was laconic: nobody is going to annul the Decree No.760, but the head of the administration would be informed about the demands of small businessmen.
The people who stayed on the square decided to go to the administration together. But at that moment riot policemen appeared. They formed a line and blocked the road to the administration. Then demonstrators turned towards Independence Square, where the House of government is situated. It takes 10 minutes to walk from October Square to Independence Square. But the number of protesters grew twice over this period of time. Passers-by joined the column marching down the avenue, and 4,000 protesters came to Independence Square.
They demanded Prime Minister to come out to them. Nobody came out to talk to them certainly. Then demonstrators decided to stay there until the authorities would not start negotiations with them. They blocked the traffic on Independence Avenue and only ambulance cars were allowed to pass. Riot policemen first pushed people from the traffic zone, and later simply disbanded them. 27 of protesters were detained.
The detained spent the night in a remand prison. On Friday they stood a trial for participation in an unsanctioned mass event. They were sentenced to 15 days of arrest and large fines.
But entrepreneurs haven’t been intimidated. As the leader of the movement “For Free Enterprise” Viktar Harbachou said, “people are starting to realize that if you want to have a decent life, you should fight for that. If the regime would not make concessions, protests would grow, we are determined to go all the way”.
There are 200,000 self-employed entrepreneurs in Belarus. It’s quite a number for a 10 million country.
The next meeting is to take place on October Square on January 21, rain or shine.
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