Market vendors in regions ready to continue protest rallies

Homel market vendors are set to hold protest rallies in the regional centre, in case authorities won’t extend preferred treatment for importing goods for private entrepreneurs.

As we have informed, on January 1 the article 3 of the Decree No. 285 of June 18, 2005 “On some measures for regulating entrepreneurial activities” is to cease to be effective. Goods from third countries released for free circulation in Russia and imported by Belarusian individual entrepreneurs are to be subject to customs clearance and payment of import VAT.

The decision of small businessmen from markets and shopping centres of Homel has been told to BelaPAN by the chairman of market vendors of “Central” market Alyaksandr Rubchenya. As said by him, on December 17 a spontaneous meeting of entrepreneurs was held on the market, with more than 100 participants. They discussed results of the protest “Businessmen march” in Minsk on December 15. Homel market vendors noted that the march was well-organized. But they were dissatisfied by the fact that representatives of different regions hadn’t been given a chance to address the protesters and voice their opinion.

“Having discussed their problems today, businessmen decided that if the regime won’t take action on extension of preferential treatment for import of goods from Russia before the New Year, we would send our delegates to Minsk for another protest rally and support such rallies in Homel. We will hold them in a format of a meeting or of a picket,” A. Rubchenya noted. As said by him, entrepreneurs from Homel are sure that it is necessary to widen demands to the authorities concerning small business problems. “People want to demand return of hired workers to markets, termination to massive check-outs by different state agencies which are held almost every day,” A. Rubchenya said.

The chairman of the council of entrepreneurs has expressed an opinion that leaders of market vendors’ organisations must unite, take joint resolutions, and “scale back ambitions a little”. “At the meeting in Bangalore Square leaders of businessmen’s structures have adopted two resolutions, which misled many businessmen. It would be better for leaders to gather before the meeting and agree beforehand, and not to argue publicly on the stage later,” A. Rubchenya believes.