Residents of Minsk's Karol Street lay down under cars

They protest against construction of a parking lot for Almaz taxi company near their houses.

A dispute between Minsk residents (4 and 6 Karol Street), the Maskouski district administration and Almaz director ended in protests. People laid down under special vehicles that arrived to cut down trees on the site of a planned parking lot. The director of the taxi company invites Onliner.by journalists to cover the incident.

Viktar Puzikau, Almaz director, describes the problem. He bought an office on the ground floor of an apartment building. The administration of Minsk's Maskouski district ordered him to build a bigger parking lot.

The project documentation was approved. The company needs to cut down 17 old trees before the construction, but local dwellers protests against building the parking lot for Almaz and cutting down the trees.

People fear the yard will be full of cabs, Viktar says. “I tried to explain to them that we will have only our office here. Only five cars will park there, though the car lot, which will be designed for 12 vehicles, will be open for all,” Viktar says.

The businessman has all necessary documents. He is ready to compensate for the inconveniences caused by construction, for example, to build a playground, pay compensation for the cut trees and plant new trees.

About 50 local residents literally laid down under the vehicle that was to cut down the trees.

The conflicting parties met in the office of the Maskouski district administration some hours later. The discussion was organised by Andrei Susliankou, the deputy head of the administration. The situation was aggravated by the utility company's plans to build a road for garbage trucks that should drive through the yard in according with urban planning rules. Most people are not happy about the new road too.

After a hot debate, Andrei Susliankou promised to save some trees, but added the road and the parking lot would be built.