Andrei Sannikov: “More and more new people would join resistance”

“The demonstration on January 10 has shown that more and more new people, new social and professional groups fed up with this regime are to join the resistance. Entrepreneurs have shown an example of selfless, courageous struggle for their rights,” told the Charter’97 coordinator Andrei Sannikov, commenting on protest rally of entrepreneurs in Minsk.

As said by Sannikov, the rally of entrepreneurs has become a visible event in the political life of the country. “Namely political life, as the matter concerns not just one law, against which market vendors protested yesterday. The matter is that this regime ahs an aim to eradicate entrepreneurs from its beginning. Instead of treating with gratitude the people who by their hard labour provide population with the articles the state is unable to supply due to its clumsiness, the regime is constantly taking steps to eradicate small and medium business, to leave people without job and chances to earn money. Yesterday’s demonstration has proved that even calm Belarusians have limits to their patience. The regime won’t achieve anything by repressive measures,” the diplomat said.

The international coordinator of the Charter’97 is convinced: court trials over participants of the meeting of entrepreneurs should be viewed as political ones, and those sentenced to imprisonment as prisoners of conscience.

“I would like to wish entrepreneurs courage and resolution, as today they are in the forefront of fight against the regime. There is hope that they will brace up, pool their resources and find support in the society in order to unite and continue uncompromising struggle for their rights,” Sannikov noted.