Entrepreneurs On Strike In Belarus :: Charter'97 :: News

National strike of entrepreneurs that is held on June 17 in Belarus, was supported by the majority of markets in the country. The protest was organized by the leaders of the businessmen movement in support of the hunger strike of the deputy group “Respublika”. Beside the demands of the MPs – “No to the third term!”, “Free Marynich!” and “For free elections!”, the entrepreneurs added economic demands: to exclude customs clearing for goods imported from Russia, of third-countries origin; to repeal retail business license for entrepreneurs that pay single tax; to repeal obligatory dues to the Social Protection Foundation, making them voluntary.

At the main market of the country, “Zhdanovichy”, about 80 percent of the entrepreneurs went on strike, and about 50% at the “Dinamo” market. The action was most actively supported in the regions: the markets in Barysau, Babrujsk, Hrodna, Pinsk. Zhodina, Lepel, Rechytsa, Svatlahorsk, Polatsk and Navapolatsk, Slonim, Mahilyou, Krupki and other towns. And the entrepreneurs of Homel worked with posters where the demands of the deputies on hunger strike are written.

As one of the entrepreneurs’ movement leaders, head of the public initiative “Perspective”, Anatol Shumchanka told in his interview to the BelaPAN, the business structures have united when faced by the threat of small business’ eradication. “The Belarusian citizens are to clear themselves from mud, where they have been dragged through throughout these ten years,” told Shumchanka. He also told that he is going to be a candidate at the parliamentary elections. “The time has come when economical demands have interweaved with the political ones. We cannot stay silent any more,” told the leader of the “Perspective”.