People trusted the State and gave $9 million to the construction of the shopping center Impulse II in the capital. However, they never received retail space. Now about two hundred entrepreneurs feel cheated and have been looking for the truth in courts for years.
This Supreme Court ended with an improvised picket and security forces’ crackdown on entrepreneurs. However – with no verdict on the case.
The Supreme Court of Belarus has not taken a decision in the high-profile case of a new shopping center, the so-called Impulse II in Minsk. It was built on the money of businessmen and entrepreneurs who never got their market places.
“Once we trusted the state, and that was the last time,” said the entrepreneurs. Building of the center began with the permission of Minsk city executive committee in the early 2000s, the share construction was widely promoted in the media advertising. Although the place was constructed long ago, noone is in a hurry to sign contracts with them. Hundred and eighty entrepreneurs turned out to be defrauded. Courts have lasted a few years now.
“Some people are already thinking about suicide, because there is absolutely nothing, nothing you can do!” said with despair one of the entrepreneurs.
This lawsuit between real estate investors, investor and developer once again decided nothing, and the case was postponed to Monday.
“For us, the X time has arrived, and it’s Monday. Either there will be a decision on the termination of the investment agreement, and for all of us it will be a tragedy – economic, global. Or it will be a decision to cancel the termination of the contract,” says one of shareholders Uladzislau.
Entrepreneurs believe that certain persons find it beneficial to delay the trial indefinitely, and suspect the representatives of the Computing Plant, which became the basis of the construction, most investors and developers.
“We currently believe the fact that this is a specific corrupt group of officials who are trying to make a raider seizure in Belarus. I think it is a precedent, this has not happened, but they are moving to this,” noted shareholder Uladzislau.
To draw attention to the problem, in front of the Supreme Court, the shareholders held an impromptu rally, addressing the president. But soon they were dispersed by members of the security forces.
“The amount we have invested is $9 million. Can you imagine this amount? And people are already dying, they get sick, they have lost everything, they let it go, they do not have to deal with it! And that includes me. I sold the apartment and a car, and now I do not know what to do!” shared his thoughts one of the holders Aliaksandr.
For several years now, shareholders have been turning to the higher authorities, the prosecutor’s office, knocked at doors of officials and broadcast an appeal to the president. But the authorities are trying to re-sell this commercial property.
Tatsiana Ulasenka, belsat.eu/en/
