Cleanup in Pinsk: Authorities no longer count on pensioners’ support

Pinsk policemen not only showed their unprofessionalism, but also the authorities’’ attitude to elderly people.

This is how a former investigator of a prosecutor’s office Aleh Vouchak commented for the charter97.org web-site on the police raid against pensioners in Pinsk.

“Of course, it is only allowed to trade in separately allotted places according to the current legislation. A respective legal status is needed: a person must be an individual entrepreneur, representative of a trading enterprise etc. This is why the demand to leave was legal. But I do not agree that the use of physical force was justified. It is clearly stated in the law that physical force is used, when there is resistance to the representatives of authorities. In any case a warning is made, that sanction of a certain type will be used”, the lawyer emphasized.

The head of the Legal Assistance to Citizens organization noted that street trading is a social phenomenon and it is present almost everywhere.

“These are usually underprovided citizens, who do that. They sell berries, mushrooms, tinned vegetables in order to survive. I think that authorities should have revealed the understanding that those were the authorities’ voters. Another mechanism of convincing the people should have been found in order to prevent the conflict. This way or another, police should carry out its duties more professionally, even if there are certain violations on the part of citizens”, - the human rights activist claimed.

He added that such places should always be controlled by district police officers, who are obliged to come and explain that in the case of a violation people will be taken responsible.

“But I will say it once again, this is a social phenomenon, and police can do nothing about it. In the conditions of such economic decay people will keep trading in the street. This is why the authorities should not conflict, but find compromises. For example, allot special places for trading and do not tax pensioners. It is worth noting that Lukashenka no longer places his bet on pensioners. Most likely he counts on the support of officials. This is an indicator of the authorities’ attitude to elderly people. Imagine, what any of us would feel if those were our parents, grandmas and grandpas in the place of Pinsk pensioners”, - Aleh Vouchak highlighted.

We would remind that on 7 July police organized a raid against the pensioner, who were trading on foodstuff near the min-market Zapadny in Pinsk.