BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

11/01/2008

Belarusian court convicts organizers of businessmen's protest

MINSK, Belarus (AP) - Several organizers of a protest by businessmen were convicted Friday by a Belarusian court on charges of staging an unsanctioned rally.

Thursday's demonstration attracted about 2,000 entrepreneurs who protested new legislation forcing them to reregister their ventures and doubling 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 27 participants, including Alexander Lebedko, head of the opposition United Civil Party, and several leaders of the Perspektiva business organization.

Lebedko, Perspektiva leader Anatoly Shumchenko and several other activists were each sentenced to 15 days in jail and a fine. Lebedko said after the verdict.

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 been heavily reliant on cheap Russian energy supplies.

Source:

http://www.pr-inside.com/belarusian-court-convicts-organizers-of-r382531.htm