Aliaksandr Makayeu: Authorities afraid of sole traders

Sole traders thank charter97.org for spreading information about protests.

Aliaksandr Makayeu, one of the leaders of the small business movement, said the authorities wouldn't have made concessions if independent media hadn't covered the situation.

He spoke to charter97.org about the decision to postpone the entry into force of the technical regulation of the Customs Union “On safety of light industry products” until July 1, 2014.

“This is good news. Sole traders achieved this half-measure, but we are happy. It was difficult for us to unite, because the authorities got rid of activists in 2008 and 2010, destroyed market councils and drew an artificial line between 'political' sole traders and ordinary ones,” the businessman noted.

He said the strike was real, not virtual. Sole traders filled in their tax returns with zero income.

“Special thanks to sole traders from Vitebsk and Hrodna, who started a wave of solidarity. Unfortunately, information about our consolidation wasn't spread via social networking sites. I'd like to thank your website for the article about preparations for the national strike. It influenced the decision of the authorities and scared them. They are watching the reaction in media. We are using guerrilla tactics now. We need to do much to unite, because we cannot struggle without consolidation. We had to used half-underground methods, but it is not normal. We must have a place for discussion and leaders,” Aliaksandr Makayeu said.