BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

10/01/2008

Police arrest Belarus opposition leader

The Belarus opposition leader, Anatoly Lebedko, has been arrested along with a number of other protesters after 3,000 businessmen took the streets of the capital Minsk in protest against a new business law.

Starting from January 1 this year individual entrepreneurs are not allowed to hire workers other than their relatives.

Otherwise, they need to re-register their businesses as privately-owned enterprises, which would increase their tax burden.

The businessmen marched to the presidential residence but were forced towards the city streets.

The entrepreneurs were then joined by opposition party members and marched to the Government building where they blocked Minsk's main street and demanded a meeting with the prime minister.

Police then forced the protesters to the sidewalks.

They are now dispersing but promised to repeat the rally in several weeks.

Source:

http://www.russiatoday.ru/news/news/19539