BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

22/01/2008

Belarusian Vendors Protest Restrictions In Activities

Nearly 2,000 people on January 21 demonstrated in central Minsk against the government's policy restricting the activities of small-business owners in Belarus, Belapan and RFE/RL's Belarus Service reported. Protesters demanded a moratorium on the presidential decree that, starting on January 1, bans certain small-business owners from hiring employees other than three family members. Small-business activist Ihar Lednik told the gathering that advocates of entrepreneurs' rights have drawn up petitions calling on international organizations to assess conditions for entrepreneurs and condemn the jailing of activists following the January 10 demonstration in Minsk. Belarusian authorities have jailed at least 40 small-business and opposition activists since that protest. Also on January 21, several hundred people demonstrated in Babruysk and Mahilyou. Riot police, led personally by Interior Minister Uladzimir Navumau, dispersed demonstrators in Minsk as they marched toward government headquarters demanding a meeting with Prime Minister Syarhey Sidorski. At least 20 participants were reportedly detained. AM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2008/01/3-cee/cee-220108.asp