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Will the Census Bring Higher Utility Bills for Belarusians?

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Will the Census Bring Higher Utility Bills for Belarusians?

The situation is reminiscent of walking on a minefield for a madman.

Belarus takes a new stage of enrollment in the "parasite" list. People, who saw higher utility bills for the first time, were shocked. One of the readers of Charter97.org said she had received a September utility bill of Br250. The apartment is registered to a husband who works abroad.

Calculation and settlement centers say that thousands of people received new utility bills in Minsk only.

Maria Tarasenka, an activist of the REP Trade Union from Homel, who is known for her active struggle against the decree on "parasites" commented on the situation:

- The situation is reminiscent of walking on a minefield. There is no certainty. Given that the decree itself is anti-human, this attitude towards people is blatant. A certain tension rises in society.

- How will the situation with increased tariffs for non-working citizens develop?

- I think because of the census the number of citizens added to the "parasite" list will increase. Given certain questions, people should answer, some other categories of citizens may receive higher utility bills.

I do not know what the authorities aim at. They may want the protests of 2017 to reoccur. Lukashenka is just a madman! Judging by current events, he cannot control either his words or deeds.

- Why is the formula for calculating the housing and utility bills a "state secret"?

- I think that these tariffs include all the costs, and all this is trivial mismanagement of the housing and utility sector. Therefore, the authorities do not want to make them public. They are afraid. Although, we need to know what the tariff, for example, for heating includes.

Lukashenka knows that this measure is extremely unpopular. For the Belarusians, the utility bill is a significant expense item. People have to pay a fair part of their earnings for housing and communal services, even under these "subsidized" tariffs.

It is not yet known whether they are subsidized or not. Or we have been paying 100% for a long time. Alas, we will not know this.

- What other scandalous situations with the decree on "parasites" would you like to note?

- Firstly, from the legal point of view, the power does not allow people to defend their honour and dignity in courts. People are forced to pay for these tariffs for various reasons.

This is my story as well: in February we sued to state that we considered it illegal to charge me a higher tariff rate. As a result, the court simply refused us.

I'll cite an example of the situation in Minsk when a person has been fighting with the system since spring. He's trying to explain that he's not a "parasite", that he shouldn't pay anything at higher rates. He reached the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court. Everywhere he faces closed doors. It's just a wall of silence and uncertainty.

- Does a document that has caused so many mistakes and so many negative emotions in people have the right of existence?

- This decree violates the Constitution of Belarus, all international norms. This is the lowest level of human development. It is not even a feudal system, it is much worse.

This decree does not have the right of existence. A person has no right to even think about it! It contradicts human, legal and economic laws. It contradicts common sense. A madman invented this decree. I do not even want to call this "man" a man!

How can such a thing appear in the state located in the center of Europe in the 21st century?

This is just humiliation of human dignity! I am ashamed that it is happening in Belarus.

- In due time, mass protests helped to suspend the decree. How to cancel it completely?

- To cancel it, one should have a political will. One shouldn't make public statements like "we've made a mistake," but just let it fade away. It would be the most rational decision.

I don't think that when you retreat, it means weakness. On the contrary, it proves wisdom and intelligence. One should admit: "I was wrong!" Give up this crazy idea.

But the authorities want protests to reoccur. A protest may turn into a catastrophe. As they say, don't trouble trouble till trouble troubles you.

If they had "good" intentions when establishing these commissions, so they should help with employment! Let our officials, together with the labour exchange, begin to help people. But in fact, Belarusians have to explain why they do not work. The authorities almost make criminals out of decent people.

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