Peasant riot in Biaroza district

Near the local executive committee’s building in the village of Sialec a public gathering took place arranged by the residents of the village. Around 150 people participated.

The residents invited the local authorities to participate. The chairman of Sialec’s executive committee Uladzimir Khilko, deputy chairman of Biaroza district executive committee Danuta Hardzieeva, acting director of the agricultural department Aliaksiej Zhelcikau and the district’s chief veterinarian Hiennadz Bielavieshkin were present. The respective representatives of Brest region and the district and region prosecutor office’s officials ignored the invitation, the web-site of the human rights center Viasna reports.

The meeting’s main goal was to achieve the cancellation of Biaroza district executive committee’s decision as of 5 August on the annihilation of privately owned pigs before 15 August in 17 villages that we located in the 5-km zone near small farms of the Soshyca and Khojniki villages, or achieve the postponement of the decision’s implementation in order to get time for appealing against the decision to higher instances. The villagers referred to the fact that the district was not a part of the 40-km buffer zone of the epidemic’s epicenter, and the farmers had small livestock numbers.

It is worth noting that the people failed to get support of the present officials. The latter demanded to follow the decision and then complain. They promised to pass the people’s demands to the district’s authorities.

The people decisively intent to protect their property, since pig breeding helps many to survive with their pensions or salaries not exceeding 1.5 million roubles.