Authorities Want To Shift Blame On 'Social Parasites'

This is immoral behavior of the authorities with regard to own citizens.

lawyer and human rights defender Tamara Siarhei told this to Charter97.org, commenting upon the updated decree on "parasites":

- As a lawyer I can say that if we look at the decree on "parasites" from the point of view of the Constitution, in which the rights and freedoms of our people are prescribed, then this is a direct violation of it. There is coercion, compulsion, involvement - you can say differently, but the essence remains unchanged. They are trying to get people involved in work within our country.

It's no secret that it is very difficult to find a job in our country. To find a decent job - even more difficult, and to find a job that will feed you and your family remains extremely difficult.

At this stage of the development of our country, many Belarusians are forced to go to work abroad. It is our state, its organization, the operating system that makes people seek better destiny abroad. They leave their families, their native places, and our authorities, which could not provide these people with a worthy existence, wants them to pay anyway.

This question is not only social, but also political. It should be considered in the context of the fact that the government does not cope with its duties.

The decree on "parasites" is an attempt to shift the blame. The authorities are trying to get a profit even from the money earned in a foreign country in harsh conditions. Bitter money. This is immoral behavior of the state with regard to its citizens. We perfectly understand that in our country there are no decent conditions for life. The state does not function normally. We are seeing a malfunction in all control mechanisms.

I believe that the Decree on "parasites" is an eloquent indicator of the inefficiency of our state.

- In your opinion, what willbe the destiny of the updated decree on "parasites"?

- When a government adopts a law or a normative act, its actions are calculated. This is a normal world practice.

If the authorities persist, then the costs that will be made to implement the decree, will exceed all possible dividends for the budget. From an economic point of view, it's a complete failure. The social and political component is an indicator of the inefficiency and immorality of the government. After all, I repeat, many Belarusians are forced to work abroad under inhuman conditions.