Ales Makaeu: Protest rally of entrepreneurs to take place on January 12 certainly

Many unsatisfied people remain in Minsk, where tax will be doubled.

One of entrepreneurs’ leaders Alyaksandr Makaeu told Radio Svaboda entrepreneurs would organize a protest rally on January 12. Entrerpeennurs are going to hold a protest rally on January 12, 2009.

“A rally on October square on January 12 hasn’t been cancelled. It is good that conditions of importing from Russia goods are prolonged. But taxes for Minsk entrepreneurs have been doubled. If “MPs” adopt new rates, it wil be very bad for us. We will use different methods of struggle. Much will depend on sentiments of entrepreneurs,” Alyaksandr Makaeu, one of the leaders of entrepreneurs’ movement, told in an interview to Radio Racyja.

As Alyaksandr Makaeu says, heads of councils of trading markets will gather for a session in the Minsk city executive committee today, where officials will get the latest information on entrepreneurs.

It should be reminded that Alyaksandr Lukashenka signed decree #703, prolonging the procedure of payment flat value added tax for goods imported from Russia for an indefinite term, but increased responsibility of individual entrepreneurs paying single tax for activity without licences or non-payment of this tax and (or) flat value added tax.

Entrepreneurs say the docuemnt didn’t make working conditions for entrepreneurs easier. The document has little in common with demands of entrepreneurs expressed at protest rallies on December 10 and 15 and will put individual entrepreneurs on the verge of survival.

“Taxes and allowances have doubled, upper rates have increased, too. In other words, people protested against the existing taxes, demanded to decrease them two times. But taxes have been increased by 100 per cent and we must pay them,” said Ales Taustyka, one of the leaders of entrepreneurs stated.