Prakapovich signs “secret” decree on market traders

Officials say the document is only for official use.

Anatoly Shumchanka, the head of the public organisation Perspective, gave an interview to charter97.org.

“We receive many calls from Minsk and regions. Market sellers don't know what to do. They say they will report zero income in their tax returns for December. None of officials can give a clear answer. I recently called the State Committee on Standartisation and they said nothing would change on December 1. But another thing worries us. Different sources, also those from the government, say Piotr Prakapovich signed a decree on non-expediency of introduction of certificates on December 1 postponing it until July 1, 2014. I asked officials to show me this document, but they say it was for official use only. Why is it so secret? Why do they keep people on tenterhooks? It would be easier to say that no changes are expected, go on and pay money to the budget. As far as I know most market traders stopped paying taxes,” one of the leader of the small businessmen movement says.

Anatoly Shumchanka says if officials don't think about themselves, they should think about pensioners and public sector employees who receive salaries from taxes.

“Market traders plan to act according to circumstances. It's hard to do something if everything is unclear. The authorities can take a decision tomorrow which we don't expect. Market traders from Baranavichy say they were fined and will be fined. It's good that people saw the real face and aims of the authorities,” the Perspective head said.

Thorough checks often followed by seizure of goods began at Belarusian markets on November 1.

The authorities disrupted a forum of small businessmen scheduled for November 25 to discuss the new trading rules that take force next month. Starting December 1, market vendors are not allowed selling goods without documents confirming their quality and safety in accordance with the Customs Union's technical regulations on safety of light industry products.