Strange rally of entrepreneurs in Minsk (Photo)

12.01.2009, 13:13

Five individual entrepreneurs and some tens of journalists came to the rally announced by the leaders of entrepreneurs.

Minsk entrepreneurs Ales Makaeu said a protest rally would take place in Minsk on January 12. According to him, entrepreneurs were going to protest against Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s Decree #703.

Five entrepreneurs gathered at October square of Minsk and stood there in silence. They didn’t have any posters and didn’t shout any slogans. Ales Makaeu came to the square after an hour – about 1.00 p.m. by this time most journalists had already gone away.

Only officers of the militia department of the city executive committee and crew of BT state-run TV channel were shooting the empty square.

A remarkable fact – leader of Perspective business organization Anatol Shumchanka stood on the other side of Independence Avenue opposite October square looking at the events. A photo correspondent of the Charter’97 press center managed to take photo of him.

Shumchanka didn’t organize this event, but he held his rally, loudly titled “march of entrepreneurs” on December 15, 2008. Shumchanka called on the opposition not to attend his rally, as he is “beyond politics”. Two thousands people gathered for the rally on December 15. In silence, they walked from Academy of Sciences to Banhalor square in bedroom community and dispersed. The rally wasn’t effective, too.

It should be noted that entrepreneur of Barysau Viktar Harbachou was called “leader of offended entrepreneurs” by journalists. Ahead of the action on January 12, he said entrepreneurs should protest on March 25 and hold a “march of offended by Lukashenka entrepreneurs”...

It should be also noticed that entrepreneurs have faced serious problems this year. Lukashenka’s decree #703 makes entrepreneurs to use “grey schemes”. Leasing of premises has grown significantly, fixed single tax rate has doubled in Minsk, and increased two or more times in some regions.