Stop-tax: drivers blocked Niezalezhnastsi avenue

Today drivers protested against the new vehicle tax.

The rally announced in the social media 5 days ago started at 6 p.m. in the central avenue in Minsk. The number of road policemen rose significantly right before the rally. A police minivan could be seen near Kastrychnitskaya square.

According to the plan, at 6 p.m. vehicles were driving very slowly, some were standing still in the middle of the street. Ten minutes later traffic was basically stopped, many cars had emergency lights on, drivers were blowing horns.

Lots of cars that took part in the rally were between the Belarusian State Circus and Victory Square. Some drivers set up posters “Stop Tax” on their vehicles. Passers-by supported the rally by clapping their hands and shouting approvingly. Half an hour after the beginning of the rally former political prisoner Aliaksandar Frantskievich and his friends were detained near Victory Square.

During the rally, road police stopped several vehicles where drivers were playing protest music or had set up posters. About 200 people who gathered near Kastrychnitskaya metro station supported the rally. Many of them were holding transparent “Stop Tax”. Later OMON started to push the people from the road.

At 7:04 p.m. the rally was over, both people and cars left the streets.

Next year Belarus may infer a vehicle tax that both private persons and companies who want to obtain permit to drive their vehicle should pay during a state technical inspection.

The bill drove Belarusians to the streets. About 80 thousand signatures were gathered within a couple of days under the demand to cancel the tax.