Viktar Marchyk: If Authorities Keep Getting Into Our Pockets, People’s Rage Will Explode

The people will take on the the Square “thanks to” the new decrees.

Former entrepreneur, representative of the Belarusian National Congress in Slonim Viktar Marchyk said this in an interview for the Charter97.org, commenting upon the possible introduction of the decree “On Security Deposit”, which provides for the businessmen to preliminarily transfer Bn 50 K to a special account in order not to find themselves in a remand prison in the future.

— I think this is nothing else but blackmailing the businessmen. The authorities have no money, and thus they are seeking for the ways and places where to pull the money from. They decided to try it with the help of this decree. If the businessmen transfer Bn 50 K to that account, the authorities will receive an opportunity to manipulate the money. Taking into account the fact that nothing changes for the better in our country, and no changes are foreseen with this system anyway, this money will also be wasted.

First they ask for Bn 50 K, then it will be Bn 70 K, then Bn 100 K. They wil be milking the business further on. I am sure that those who would transfer the money would be hunted down by the authorities, to make them give as much as possible, as, given that they transferred the money, it means they have some “grey schemes”, and they are trying to secure themselves. I am saying it once again — I think the introduction of such a decree is a pure blackmail by the authorities.

— What is the economic situation of the Slonim entrepreneurs?

— You know, if in summer small businessmen have at least few opportunitites to earn money, then in winter they make losses. There’s no hope. Meanwhile, to find a job in such a small town remains very difficult. The vacancy bank offers jobs with very small salaries. The people don’t want to get employed there as they will only be able to afford payment for the communal services. The entrepreneurs are similarly busy, hoping for changes, spending what they had earned before. The family budgets are getting smaller.

I think that if nothing changes, if the authorities continue getting into our pockets, then the people’s rage will explode. Belarusians will take on to the Square, as they will have no other options. There will be a rebellion.

Important to note, the Outraged Belarusians’ March 2.0 is scheduled on 2 p.m. on October 21 in the Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk. The main demands of the action are the abolishment of the Decree #3 and other illegal extortions, imposed by the authorities; and raising salaries and pensions.