Belarus opposition set to head protests against ‘inhuman’ decree on social parasites


Belarusian opporition parties are seeking to revoke the so-called decree on ‘idlers’ signed by president Lukashenka in April, 2015.

They have filed an application to Minsk authorities asking them to sanction ‘non-idlers’ marching from the building of the National Academy of Sciences to Bangalore Square on March 15, Consitution Day. The people will be gathering under the banner of the anticonstitutional nature of the tax on ‘social parasites’.

Decree Nr 3 established the obligation of the citizens of Belarus, foreign citizens permanently residing in Belarus, stateless persons, who did not participate in the financing of public spending or participated in such financing less than 183 days (six months – ed.) in the past year, to pay a fee of 20 basic units (appr. $230).

The application was signed by Dzyanis Sadouski, Secretary of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party, Iryna Veshtard, Chairwoman of the Belarusian Social Democratic party (Hramada), Dzmitry Kuchuk, deputy chairman of the Belarusian Party ‘The Greens’ and Uladzimir Labuda, an activist of the United Civic Party.

“It will not be a march for the opposition, but for persons who are not satisfied with the decree and are now ready to defend their rights. It is expected that the action will be authorized, and it will bring together as many people as possible,” Dzyanis Sadouski told news agency BelaPAN.

Moreover, opposition politician and former political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich invites compatriots to another protest rally, Outraged Belarusians’ March, which is to take place on February 17 in Minsk.

Collecting signatures for the abolition of Decree Nr 3 began on January, 17. As of today, over 20,000 persons signed the petition.

belsat.eu

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