Hundreds of Hrodna Sole Traders Expressed Their Complaints To Officials

The main topic was the issue of certificates and extravagant fines to sole traders.

On February 2, hundreds of Hrodna sole traders who used to work in the local markets, met with chairman of the executive committee Miachyslau Hoi. The latter appeared with his substituents, tax authorities and the leadership of Grodnotorgservice (there were no representatives of the police for some reason), Euroradio reports.

The talk of the city leaders with sole traders turned out to be pretty nervous. At first Hoi and his deputy gave a talk themselves, then sole traders in turn started to take the floor. The main topic was the issue of certificates: their work had become impossible due to the Decree №222, so the city markets mostly stopped their work. However, Miachyslau Hoi tried to suppress all the discussions regarding the Decree, saying that “we have not taken this decision.”

Other complaints were voiced at the meeting: the extravagant fines to sole traders which “have caused permanent atmosphere of fear in the markets” and the propaganda campaign in the state media, where sole traders are depicted almost as “enemies of the people”.

The speakers’ emotional statements were met with applause, but the authorities largely kept silent or responded the following way: ”We have heard your opinion, we’ll convey your message to the upper authorities.” Sometimes, the chairman of the executive committee even tried to joke: for example, having heard about sole traders’ lack of holidays and vacations Miachyslau Hoi said with a smile: “Why do you need vacations? You haven’t been working for two months ....“ The audience reacted with protest statements.

Towards the end of the meeting, when they touched the subject of the quality of Belarusian goods, Hoi deliberately came down to the first rows of the audience, to show that his costume was made in Belarus. Sole traders had a different opinion about Belarusian goods. One speaker called them “real estate” – that is a product which cannot be sold.

The next meeting with the head of the Grodno businessmen Executive Committee will be held on Friday at one of the markets of the city.