BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

10/01/2008

Police in Belarus Break Up Protest

The Associated Press

MINSK, Belarus Police on Thursday broke up a rally of 2,000 entrepreneurs protesting moves by the authoritarian government of Belarus to increase the burden on private business in the former Soviet republic.

The demonstrators opposed new legislation that would force them to reregister their ventures and double the amount of taxes they have to pay. Businessmen who want to avoid the new terms will be restricted to hiring their relatives to keep their ventures within the family.

Police pushed protesters out of the capital's main avenue and detained about a dozen.

President Alexander Lukashenko has ruled Belarus with an iron fist since 1994, quashing dissent and opposition groups and resisting free-market reforms. He has maintained a Soviet-style, centrally controlled economy that has relied heavily on cheap Russian energy supplies.

"Lukashenko is trying to stifle the emerging class of entrepreneurs because he is afraid of people capable of defending themselves and their freedom," opposition leader Alexander Milinkevich said in a speech at the rally.

Protesters, who gathered at the capital's central square, demanded a meeting with top officials to convey their demands. Officials ignored the request.

"I was forced to lay off four sales clerks simply because they aren't my relatives," said Anatoly Tikotsky, who participated in the protest. "We won't allow Lukashenko to treat us like dogs."

Source:

http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20080110/API/801100745