Businessmen Call On Lukashenko’s Resignation, Journalists’ Liberation :: Charter'97 :: News

National action of civil insubordination is still underway in Belarus. It was caused by Alexander Lukashenko’s decree of July 25, 2002 #18 “On certain issues of social protection of citizens”, which maintains that individual entrepreneurs are subject to mandatory state social insurance and pay obligatory insurance fines, which constitute no less than 36% of the size of the minimal living budget per capita.

As far as the decree is legally confusing and contradictory, infringing on both the country’s Constitution and current legislation, the striking committee of entrepreneurs went on an action of civil insubordination in early September 2002, that is the refusal to fulfill provision 2 of the Decree until it is brought into compliance with legal norms.
By January 10, 2003 70% of Belarus’ registered tradesmen joined the action of civil insubordination countrywide. Many businessmen are being registered against their will, though they decline to pay anything for that.
Apart from the demands, provoked by the decree, the striking committee also put forth a few political claims, such as:
1. Resignation of president and government of Belarus
2. Cessation of journalists’ harassment for criticizing Lukashenko
3. Liberation of journalists Markevich, Mozheiko and Ivashkevich.