Market traders in Brest receive solidarity leaflets

Leaflets calling on market traders to stand up for their rights were distributed in Brest.

It was done by activists of European Belarus civil campaign.

“We handed out leaflets at all big markets and other crowded places of the town. We distributed about 2,000 leaflets,” charter97.org learnt from an activist. “The decrees that make impossible further work of market sellers will come into force on March 1. Many traders close their business, others want to protest. It is time to call on them to unite and struggle for their rights.”

Leaflets contained an article by Illia Dabratvor, one of the leaders of the the small business movement, that calls to solidarity. “No change will come until people are united. Solidarity is a sacred thing,” it reads.

The Forum of Small Businessmen, which was held in Minsk lately, failed to achieve the main aim – postponing the coming into force of Lukashenka's decree No.222 that obliges sellers to have accompanying documents for all items on sale. Trading without accompanying documents will be prohibited in a week. Traders will be fined 9 million rubles for violations and their goods will be confiscated. Controlling agencies begin to carry out checks on a large scale and confiscate goods.

Representatives of small business say market traders will have to stop working, because wholesale centres in Russia, where most of them buy goods, do not issue certificates.