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Social Discontent Is Growing

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Social Discontent Is Growing
PHOTO: BELAPAN.COM

"Parasites" are ready to act radically.

How will the bureaucratic machine cope with the army of "parasites"?

The REP trade union and human rights activists have announced a campaign for the abolition of the "tax on parasitism". The REP trade union urges citizens to sign a petition to Lukashenka, demanding to repeal the discriminatory decree. The collection of signatures is to become some kind of reconnaissance before a national campaign for the abolition of the unconstitutional law.

Sudalenka: "parasites" are ready to act radically

In January, Lukashenka amended the "decree on parasitism" – the deadline for payment of the tax was extended until 20 February. The authorities demonstrate that they would like to replenish the budget at the expense of "dependents" and have no plans to give up, human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka believes.

– One can say that the things are getting hairy. More than 10 people seek advice at our Homel office every day. In 2015, a lot of people found themselves in a difficult life situation, were fired and could not find work. People just have no money to pay the tax. This is particularly true of regional centers. The people are ready to turn the tide. This decree caused social discontent, which is not comparable even with the one, caused by the recent increase of the retirement age, – the human rights activist told Your Country’s Tomorrow.

Tax officials state that citizens have been sent around 400 thousand notifications. Leanid Sudalenka believes that only about half of them are justified.

– The question arises: how will the bureaucratic machine cope with such an army – one can talk about 200 thousand people, many of whom are not going to pay. There is no practice of applying punishment for non-paying this tax today, so no one can say how it will work in the end. How to determine who "deserves" a fine of two basic units, and who – of four ones? Who is to be put in jail for a day, and who – for fifteen days? – the human rights activist says.

Kavalkin: "parasites" are to face fines

Kosht Urada Project Leader Uladzimir Kavalkin, an economist, doubts that after February 20 the "parasites" will meet with the state machine’s reaction, even if they have not paid the tax without reason.

– The events will follow the usual scenario. I think that there will be fines, in which case services of judicial execution will be involved. It is difficult to say now what the authorities will decide on administrative arrests, – Uladzimir Kavalkin says.

The Kosht Urada Project Leader believes that the country's leadership is unlikely to cancel the "tax on parasitism" within the existing circumstances.

– I'm afraid that we can only hope in this situation that the authorities will admit that they are wrong. But it’s not likely to happen, – Uladzimir Kavalkin says.

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