Riot in the Village near Svetlahorsk

Villagers protest against a harmful enterprise.

Residents of the Yakimova Sloboda complain that the Svetlahorsk Pulp and Paper plant located nearby pollutes the air and they have "no air to breathe", Belsat informs.

People have already addressed to local officials to solve the problem. Journalist Larysa Shchyrakova informs that the Deputy Minister of Health should have visited the village today. It has caused a spontaneous rally.

Villagers complain about unpleasant odor from the plant. It causes, they say, a sore throat and cough, some even had a nosebleed. They demand to ensure a constant environmental monitoring and to minimize harmful emissions.

For more information watch the stream of Larysa Shchyrakova.

The plant was built in accordance with the Belarus-China investment contract. Contractor is the Chinese corporation CAMCЕ.

The construction was planned for 2015. After long disputes Chinese contracting organizations began to replace the rejected cable products in 2017.

The opening of the plant was scheduled for November 7. In November it was two times informed that Aliaksandr Lukashenka would visit the plant. However, it did not happen. This December China reported on the opening of the new plant in Svetlahorsk.