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Entrepreneurs: No Protests - No Dialogue With Authorities

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Entrepreneurs: No Protests - No Dialogue With Authorities

Mahilyeu entrepreneurs require to repeal Decree No. 222 again.

The document of the regional forum of entrepreneurs with participation of about 40 people and held on May 30 proves it, BelaPAN reports.

The main idea was the promotion of an open dialogue between local authorities and a small business. However, organizers mention that problems with the place for the meeting and absence of representatives of Mahilyeu oblispolkom prove that local authorities are not ready for any dialogue.

At the same time, Chairperson of Perspective Republican Public Association Anatol Shumchanka emphasized that the situation in a business environment after winter protests "is halted and can explode at any time". "We are here not to let the winter situation reoccur," he said noting short-term attitude of Mahilyeu bureaucrats who refused to talk.

In his words, the working group created in the Ministry of Economy amid winter protests of businessmen showed its incompetency and since the resumption of work entrepreneurs in February-March has never gathered again. "It means it aimed only to reduce tension, not take a systemic work," a leader of Perspective noted.

Anatol Shumchanka told about attempts of tax authorities to practice Decree No. 222 requiring to sale goods of the light industry imported from countries of the Customs Union only with accompanying documents.

The last case has happened in Shklou. Local tax authorities held demands against a local entrepreneur, her wholesale seller, a Russian company, denied to provide documents.

Those present at the forum wondered why confiscated goods with no certificates was sold in state shops and it did not require any documents.

Entrepreneurs also mention that in the result of the winter activity of the government the number of representatives of a small business reduced by half. "Who of bureaucrats will be responsible for it?" Shumchanka wonders and urges the authorities to "leave the path of folly and face good sense."

Chairman of the Business Council of the Preston shopping center Aliaksei Valatka believes the legislation in Belarus does not allow businessmen to work honestly and not to be ruined. At the same time he notes the situation in a business environment points to unreadiness to mass protests and only such forums are still possible although the authorities, as practice shows, listen to only protesting ones. Thus, it is a vicious circle - entrepreneurs are not ready to protest, the authorities are not going to take a dialogue without protests.

Entrepreneurs were also confused why the government invited foreign business and guaranteed different profits and made the situation for a local business challenging.

In the end the participants of the Mahilyeu forum adopted the document that proposed, in particular, to create a dialogue ground at a local level so that the opinion of IEs would be taken into consideration during decision-making, repeal decree No. 222, guarantee inviolability of property, consider a crime the resistance to business activities. They also declared work of the regional committee of economy with businessmen unsatisfactory.

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