Entrepreneurs don’t surrender (Video)

The today protest action of entrepreneurs in Minsk gathered more than 2.000 people. In spite of preventive arrests and detentions of the leaders of entrepreneurs’ movement, the participants of the action weren’t afraid to require the authorities to stop persecution of entrepreneurs, release prisoners from jail on Akrestin Street and impose a moratorium on the decree 760, ruining small business in the country.

About 2.000 people came to the protest rally to October (Kastrychnitskaya) Square by 1.00pm. In absence of the leaders of entrepreneurs’ movement, most of whom are serving the arrests in the special prison facility on Akrestin Street on falsified accusations, representatives of the oppositional parties took the initiative at first. Ales Mikhalevich, deputy head of the Belarusian Popular Front, and former political prisoner Mikola Statkevich, leader of the Social Democratic Party (“Narodnaya Gramada”), said they supported the demands of entrepreneurs.

After that the banners “Saligorsk against decree 760,” “Enough waiting, let’s act!” “Lukashenkas to market – family business” were unfurled on the stairs of the Palace of Republic. Activists of the entrepreneurs movement spoke it’s impossible to continue any negotiations with the authorities in the conditions when they not only ignore their appeals to solve the problems together by means of negations, but also respond with repressions.

The speakers emphasised that the authorities themselves by their repressive activity and unwillingness to conduct dialog in a civilised way made them take to street in protest to draw the attention to their problems. It was stressed that most of entrepreneurs have found themselves on the street after the decree 760 came into force since 1 January. The decree allows individual entrepreneur to employ only their close relatives. In the conditions suggested by the government the majority of entrepreneurs is unable to continue their work, as the necessity to form unitary enterprises makes them bankrupted.

In this connection the speakers require the decree 760 to be considered in the Constitutional Court ion order to find out whether it respond the Constitution of the country, and deputy minister of economy Andrei Tur to be dismissed.

Viktar Kryval, one of the leaders of the entrepreneurs’ movement, on behalf of representatives of small business in Belarus read out a statement on formation a public forum “In defence of freedom and business” in Belarus. According to him, all public entrepreneurs’ initiatives and organisations of the country, both on national and regional levels, are intended to join it.

Candidatures of Viktar Garbachou, Viktar Kryval, Alyaksandr Tsatsura, Viktar Kalei, Ala Gurevich, Alyaksandr Makayeu, Alyaksandr Taustyka and Sofya Mityashava were proposed to the forum organising committee. The candidatures were approved in pone voice by the protesters.

The participants of the rally agreed with the proposal spoken by Viktar Kryval to continue protest actions until the requirements of entrepreneurs are satisfied. According to Kryval, on 28 January, when entrepreneurs are to pay taxes for the next month, they will organise protest actions in regions near the building of local administration. He also confirmed the intention of most of entrepreneurs to go on an indefinite strike from 1 February without paying taxes, and come to October Square on 18 February.

It should be noted that speeches of the protesters were drowned out by transmission of the first national radio, and the people are warned through loud speakers of a paddy wagon on responsibility for participation in a forbidden mass event and on possible using force. The people on the square shouted “Disgrace!” and “Freedom!” in response.

After Viktar Kryval’s speech the people on October Square decided to move to the House of Government to say their requirements to prime minister Syargei Sidordky.

At the crossing of Independence Avenue and Lenin Street the protesters came to the traffic way, as there was no enough space on the pavement. But the militia pushed them back after some time.

A column of demonstrants came to Independence Square. But riot militia didn’t’ allow them either pass their demand to Sidorsky, or hold a rally. Five paddy wagons stood near the Pedagogical University, riot militiamen in uniform, in helmets, with truncheons and shields cordoned off the square. Minister Navumau was in charge of the operation. He evidently decided to practice in suppression dissent and remind his youth before his journey to Vienna the next day.

Accompanying by threatening sound of claps truncheons at shields, the chain of riot militia, consisted of several lines, pushed the protesters from Independence Square. The people chose to go away in order not to became “food to powder.” They moved back and shouted “Fascists!” and “Freedom!”

A part of demonstrants near the Hotel Minsk was surrounded by the riot militia. There were at least 500 people in the circle. The riot militiamen caught people and stuff them into paddy wagons. Some tens of people were detained in such a way.

Participants of the rally, who didn’t manage to get into the encirclement, returned to October Square. While they were walking, riot miloitimen tried to split people and disband them. However, at least half a thousand people reached October Square. However, almost immediately they were encircled again. Traffic militiamen clocked their way from the side of the road, while riot policemen blocked them from the side of the Palace of Republic. Demonstrators were forced away to Minsk Conservatory, and then disbanded in small groups or one after one.

According to preliminary reports, about 30 persons have been detained today. About 20 of them were taken to the militia department of Maskouski district, others were taken to the militia department of Tsentralny district of Minsk.

Video by "Nasha Niva"