Henadz Fyadynich: Protests to Augment

The decree on "parasitism" has become the straw that broke the camel's back.

Tax authorities have sent 470 thousand notices to pay "the tax on parasitism", but only 51.6 thousand Belarusians paid it. Almost 420 thousand citizens refused to pay this humiliating duty.

Earlier the Tsentralny District Court of Homel delivered a verdict on lack of jurisdiction over the case of the district court on the case of 53 year-old Aliaksandr Syamyonau. The constitutionality of decrees, orders and laws is considered by the Constitutional Court which does not accept applications from citizens.

How should "spongers" resisting this humiliating status behave?

Leader of an independent Trade Union of Radio and Electronic Industry (REP) Henadz Fyadynich provided comments to Belaruskaya Prauda.

- No one has banned to file a suit against tax inspectorates. Lawyers of the Trade Union now develop other claims.

Well-known Aliaksandr Syamyonau had his problems resolved (the Homel City Executive Committee released him from the tax and employed him within a day) and refused to continue the trial. However, we'd like to bring the process to its logical end. There are people who want to sue against anti-constitutional Decree No. 3. We want to get a reasoning part of the court decision.

-The REP Trade Union was the one who initiated a mass campaign against the "decree on parasitism". What have been done over the past month?

- We have managed to collect 44 thousand signatures against the decree. But it still continues, since February 17 people have continued to come to us. I cannot even predict when it is accomplished.

The main result of mass protests held in Minsk and the regions is that they were not of a political nature; people of different ages and professions stood against the state activity. Obviously, Decree No. 3 has become the last drop that makes the cup of Belarusian run over; earlier such complex problems as retirement age increase, increase of tariff rates for housing and communal services, and problems with individual entrepreneurs emerged... All these problems were covered by Decree No. 3 that has become the climax of all earlier adopted decisions in the socio-economic sphere. "Decree on parasitism" has affected a large part of the population of Belarus and it has become the reason to take the streets.

It aroused the people who now demonstrate their readiness to stand for personal interests. And to do it together.

Enlisted "spongers" have already received first formal letters from the Lukashenka's Administration - these are carbon-copy answers, however, with different dates and addresses - the authorities have no grounds to revoke Decree No. 3. Such reply is unsatisfactory, and the Belarusian leadership will not be able to preserve the best face on matters. It seems to me it's better to suspend the decree without day. I stress that it is better for the authorities. Too many problems have accumulated in relations between the authorities and the people: the state only intensifies pressure on people being absolutely not interested in its life. And now people get rent bills with new prices. It is not possible to predict the reaction of people on further tightening of screws.

Our objective is to help people to organize themselves to protect their rights.

The state does not provide any assistance to the population. A representative of the Brest regional tax inspectorate announced that 13 thousand residents of the Brest region were granted a remission of the taxation. But it turns out that more than 12 thousand people work abroad. It is not a remission; bring your apologies for calling them "spongers"!

The Belarusians are patient, but they have no money to survive. The unemployment is rising, and people had never laid eyes on the promised new jobs, the economic situation aggravates in all spheres. One cannot let off steam with promises of the salary of $500. It is impossible - in the regions people earn 150-200 rubles!

How should they survive? Everyone has a family and everyone want to live today not tomorrow.