BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

11/01/2008

Belarusian Small-Business Owners Protest Restrictions On Activities

Nearly 3,000 people took part in an unsanctioned demonstration in central Minsk on January 10 to protest government restrictions the activities of small businesses, Belapan and RFE/RL's Belarus Service reported. Under presidential decree, starting from January 1, certain small-business owners are barred from hiring employees other than three family members. "We want to work honestly and on equal conditions, but we and the government have different ideas of what equal conditions are," Anatol Shumchanka, leader of the Perspektyva small-business association, told the rally. Former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Milinkevich accused the government of attempting to "liquidate entrepreneurs as a class." Protesters headed to the presidential administration demanding a meeting with a representative, but the police sealed off the road to the building. Protesters then marched to the headquarters of the government, where they demanded a meeting with the prime minister, but he did not come out to meet the demonstrators. Several hundred small-business owners also protested against the restrictions in Mahilyou and Barysau. AM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2008/01/3-cee/cee-110108.asp

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