Slonim REP Activist: People Are Really Angry over the Authority

Only joint participation in protests can make a difference.

Activist of the Radio and Electronic Industry (REP) Trade Union Mikhail Sashko from Slonim stated that in his comment to press-service of the Belarusian National Congress.

- Please, tell us about socio-economic situation in your region. What salaries people get, what arechances to find a job?

- The economic situation is quite complicated in Slonim. Enterprises work bad. For example, on September 27 the next enterprise in the city - Slonim Bytkombinat - was declared bankrupt and stopped its work. All its employees were dismissed. Therefore, the situation with work is very complex. The labor exchange has few vacancies. I am also recorded there. Basically, this is a one-time donkey work without any social guarantees.

- Are there vacancies in Lithuania, Poland, Russia?

- Many people leave for there. Now Russia is not the guarantor of any earnings, many people leave for neighboring Poland or the Baltic countries. People try to get there to work. There are higher salaries, more social guarantees. Civilized states provide greater guarantees and opportunities than the same Russia or the Belarusian regime.

- And what do ordinary people say about the economic situation, salaries and pensions?

- People are very worried and outraged with the current situation. They are really angry over the authority. I have recently collected signatures for improving living conditions in Slonim dormitories which are owned by the District Executive Committee. According to my observations, people are very aggressive towards the authorities. They pay "rent bills" and do not know what their money is spent on. Residents of these dormitories cannot even wash the windows, because they fall apart and fall down together with the frame. At the same time, no overhaul repairs of buildings are not afforded. There is no reaction on the part of the authorities. Therefore, without exaggeration, we can say that people are already very angry over the authority.

- Minsk takes the March of Angry Belarusians 2.0 on October 21. Do you support it?

- Of course. People are increasingly aware that only together we can defend our rights. Belarusians are disappointed with the judicial system and do not hope that courts can solve any problem. More and more people understand that only protests and only together we can reach something.