On June 20, vendors gathered in Minsk for a meeting to discuss Lukashenko’s decree #285 on WAT procedures adopted on June 18. Before, there were talks about going on a strike on July 1. This will not happen. “The issue is on hold,” told Viktor Gorbachev, one of the leaders. “People have to understand what is going on and to decide themselves how they want to live. Therefore, we are not going to initiate the strike. We will provide assistance to vendors when they express their discontent. It is them who have to say the first word about going on strike, not the council.”
Viktor Gorbachev also pointed out that the burden of taxes would lie on customers shopping at markets. “The price of merchandise will increase depending on the amount of taxes. We will be explaining to people whose fault that is. We will explain that those edicts, decrees and resolutions caused the increase in prices.”
Around 70 vendors from all over Belarus took part at the meeting. They have created Republican and Oblast Coordination Councils of Vendors, most of the representatives in councils are members of “Perspective” public association.
It was planned that vendors would have to pay WAT by July 1, however the deadline was postponed till August 1. Vendors believe, there are several reasons for that. First, administration felt popular discontent. Second, they took timing into account. August is one of the most profitable months for vendors. Also, according to the information provided by vendors, administration decided to avoid the strike in July diring “Slavianskij Bazar”music festival.
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