No Need To Reinvent Wheel In Struggle With ‘Parasitic’ Decree

The dictatorship hears only the voice of the streets.

The Ministry of Taxes and Dues stated that information on Belarusians working abroad will be included in the so-called database of incomes of the population.

The total control of the authorities and the "Orwellian" realities are becoming ever more tangible. One of the leaders of the Belarusian National Congress and coordinator of the European Belarus civil campaign Yauhen Afnahel commented on the statement of the Ministry of Taxes and Dues, specially for Charter97.org:

- We warned about this when it was first reported that such a database would be created in Belarus. It's no secret that more than a million Belarusians work abroad. Someone in Russia, someone in the EU countries.

The Belarusian authorities pursue two goals when they create this database. The first goal is financial. People who work abroad earn more than if they worked in Belarus at the same jobs. It is for this reason that they leave the country. It is quite natural that the authorities want to take some of this money for themselves. In any form in which this is possible.

The second goal is the control over those compatriots who are abroad. For the regime it is very important to have control over all Belarusians to some extent. Those who leave abroad break free from the dependence on the regime. And the inclusion of Belarusians in such a base will allow the authorities to put pressure on their relatives, recruit special services for work, and confiscate their housing. It is an instrument of pressure on the Belarusians, who escaped from the eyes of the authorities.

In the fight against the Decree # 1, you do not need to reinvent the wheel. After all, for 24 years the dictatorship reacted only to street protests, listened only to the voice of the streets. It is clear that you can just sit in the kitchen and condemn the decree on "parasites", but this is not a panacea.

Last year showed that only street protests can force the authorities to think better. When people actively express their position on the occasion of a certain step of the authorities - the authorities begin to think. Everything depends on us, Belarusians.

If we are ready to protest, the decree will be repealed. No databases will be created. Keep silence - the authorities will go further and total control will only be strengthened. I repeat, the only method is the street.