Protests at Zhdanovichy market go on

Hundreds of sole traders gathered near the pavilion “Mir Mody” at Zhdanovuchy market.

Stalls and pavilions are open, but people don't work. Representatives of the Committee on Standartisation, the Ministry of Trade and taxation agencies came to the meeting. They try to explain the new rules of certification and work in the Customs Union, Radio Svaboda reports.

Leader of the association Perspective Anatoly Shumchanka is not present. He was sentenced to 5 days in custody for organising a strike. Perspective's deputy head Viachaslau Pilipuk conducts the informal meeting.

People are nervous and excited. The parties don't understand each other. Some officials say no significant changes are expected, but others say national certificates will be needed, though under the new regulation, which hasn't been approved yet, unified certificates will be used within the Customs Union. The situation is not clear yet, though the changes take effect already on July 1.

A collective appeal to Viktar Radzevich, the head of Minsk's Tsentralny police department, has been signed demanding to immediately release Anatoly Shumchanka so that he could take part in the session of the Eurasian Commission on July 2.

Sole traders had a one-day national strike across Belarus yesterday protesting against the new rules of work in the Customs Union.