How I was buying dollars according to new scheme

On December 20 in the midnight a new system of foreign currency purchase was implemented in Belarus.

Everyone who wishes to buy foreign currency, must pay additional 30% of the exchange rate.

This sum will be transferred to the state budget. Though, the approved budget for the year 2015 does not stipulate for these incomings.

A reporter of “Nasha Niva” decided to test the new rules himself. At the midnight this system was not used in all exchange offices. However, in Belarusbank, which is situated in Viktoria Hotel, the clerk confirmed that they started to work with foreign exchange.

However, as before, it is impossible to buy dollars. Only the currency previously sold by previous clients goes on sale.

For the sake of an experiment I had to sell one dollar. The exchange rate is Br10,780. The cashier rounded up and gave me 10,800. But it was not possible to receive additional 30% buying it.

“And now I want to buy.” “But we do not have currency for sale! Or do you need the same dollar back?” the cashier guesses. But the programme uploaded to the computer has not been finalized probably, so she counted the additional 30% with the help of a calculator. And finally she announced: “You are to pay 14,550.”

The fee goes in a separate line in the receipt.

In addition, the exchange rate of the bank, as well as the total sum is indicated. It follows from the documents that I have just paid 3,350 to the Belarusian budget.

The cashier does not know when dollars for sale will arrive. The plane with the currency has not landed yet.

Yahor Martsinovich, “Nasha Niva”