Baranavichy: entrepreneurs protest
On 12 December at 12 a.m. a protest of small entrepreneurs took place in Baranavichy in Lenin Square near the building of town executive committee. The people protested against the increase of taxes and payment for trade places.
About 30 individual entrepreneurs gathered in Baranavichy on Lenin Square, RFE/RL informs. There was no response from the authorities. Only once a policeman came, and two policemen were keeping ward nearby.
The organizers evaluate the rally as a spontaneous one.
‘In general, the rally appeared to be a little spontaneous, as it was planned in December in the altitude of passion. Another thing is troubling us. Having learnt from the bitter experience of persecution, people have fear. Now policemen will come here, picture us and shoot video…’ said one of the organizers of the protest Mikalai Charnavus.
A well-known public activist from Baranavichy Viktar Syrytsa believes that small businessmen lack collective spirit.
‘This rally has certainly failed. They are individual entrepreneurs, by the way. The main trouble is that everyone acts individually, there is no collective spirit. So no protest rallies take place,’ Viktar Syrytsa says.
The rally in Baranavichy lasted for less than an hour.
