Yury Khashchevatski: The Gang Imposed Obrok

It's high time to take earthfork and get our rights back.

The authorities of Belarus actually introduced a new tax class - "self-employed". This was stated at a press conference by Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection Valery Kavalkou on September 28.

"If a person is registered in the tax, paid the fee, then he is involved in the economy, no one will control whether he is engaged in this activity or not. And registration in the NSSF is no longer required. A person decides to engage in some kind of activity to be self-employed, he pays a single tax rate, so he is engaged in the economy," the Deputy Minister stated.

Does it turn out that it is the duty of every citizen of Belarus to pay a tax and we are all under a poll tax? Well-known Belarusian film director Yury Khashchevatski answers questions of Charter97.org.

- It all makes sense: they have already started to look through history books - the way it was under serfdom which they have actually introduced throughout the territory of Belarus. So they "got to the bottom" how the authorities earned their living under serfdom.

There was obrok except for base services. And this amended Decree No. 3 tries to impose obrok for every Belarusian. "You must pay to do whatever you want," this is the classics of the obrok learned from the history and literature. However, it is normal for the 17th or 18th century.

It has already happened in the history. Modern serfdom of Belarus is only gaining strength and it increasingly reminds of a classic serfdom that existed in past centuries.

The authorities have not come up with anything new: they are feudals who drag the entire country into feudalism. Because they do not know the other way of ruling. If they have a chance, they will make slave- owning system and the Ancient Rome back. They will proclaim themselves "patricians" and Julius Caesar will become the "guarantor". However, his own Brutus will be found and he will bring the story to its logical conclusion.

But this scenario will take much time. A great minus is that Lukashenka and his people will impoverish our land and the Belarusians. The sooner everyone realizes that this is just an ordinary gang which has fallen greedily upon the power and starts to actively resist, the more chances we have to defend a normal future. Actually, the authorities themselves "open" eyes of the last doubters: now all officially unemployed will pay the obrok. Great. I'm waiting on continuation.

- But people are interested in a pension and "self-employed" will have to pay to the NSSF. And it means $550 a year which is $330 more than the tax on "old" decree. How could you comment on such a "maneuver" of the authorities?

- It also fits in the logic of feudal rulers. Obrok is such a monetary category which must constantly grow. You know that the master always needs more.

What should I say about a constant fee increase if the pension of a policeman is three-four times higher than that of a teacher? This is the system. This is the only way the authorities can live. This is their "style" of work. More complex issues are out of their perception.

If there had been oil in Belarus, they would have sold it. But there is no oil, and they have to milk people. The authorities treat hard-working Belarusian people as a "mineral". And do their best to make people work very hard.

What can I say? This authority should be overthrown. I'm sure about it.