Sole traders threaten to boycott Lukashenka's decree

Sole traders from Baranavichy are ready to boycott decree No. 222 that will liquidate small business in the country.

A big poster reading “Did you join the boycott of the president's decree No. 222 from 1 March 2015?” appeared at the central market in Baranavichy on Sunday, Viasna human rights centre reports.

Sole trader Mikalai Charnavus says small businessmen won't be able to work from March 1, because sole traders cannot provide documents and certificates for their goods for objective reasons. Officials will have the right to confiscate their goods both on sale and in stock from March 1.

“Sole traders can lose everything they have earned for 20 years. Our grandparents once survived the dekulakisation. They now want to seize property of sole traders. We want to defend ourselves and our business,” Mikalai Charnavus says.

The poster calling to boycott the president's decree No. 222 was removed quickly. Aliaksandr Dain, the director of the Baranavichy market, tore it off and threatened Mikalai Charnavus to “take measures against his writings”.