Salihorsk Entrepreneur Goes On Hunger Strike (Photo) :: Charter'97 :: News

Since August 25 a poster with the words “Hunger strike” has appeared on the balcony of Valery Baranouski. Baranouski, 56, has been charged with illegal business activities, sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment with suspended execution of sentence for a year and a half, and compelled him to pay a fine of 12,000 UDS. The entrepreneur challenges the verdict and the institution of a criminal action against him.

Baranouski has warned city authorities and the prosecutor’s office about the beginning of the hunger strike.

“I have written to the prosecutor, that I have paid $ 7,100 customs clearance for the cars for which I am accused. And I ask the prosecutor, who is more valuable for the state, me or you?” the entrepreneur told to the Radio Svaboda.

The businessman has been bringing cars from abroad two or three times a year for the last several years. He declared profits, paid taxes. But he hadn’t expected that he would be affected by the law “On Entrepreneurship”. He was trying to do everything officially. And after 5 years finance police has claims to him.

More and more often entrepreneurs in Belarus are announcing hunger strikes. In July-August in Brest owners of taxi shuttles were on hunger strike, and before that 25 taxi drivers went on hunger strike in Vaukavysk.