Tax on ‘spongers’ get people cornered - Belsat TV Director about protests in Belarus

28.03.201713:36

Belsat TV Director Agnieszka Romaszewska-Guzy has made a comment on the current protest moods in Belarus for the Polish Public Television (TVP).

“People took to the streets in different cities and towns, in some places their protesting was never expected. People in Belarus know that they are being robbed. And they decided to take action. Belarus’s situation is similar to that of Russia: there has been a significant deterioration due to Russia’s economic downturn and the disastrous management system introduced by Lukashenka,” she said.

According to Romaszewska-Guzy, the people’s fatigue is clearly seen.

“This system has 23 years, and people are sick and tired of it. In Belarus, the price level has almost reached that of Poland, but small towns residents’ salaries amount to 400, 600, 800 zlotys. The number of services and things citizens should pay for is constantly increasing. Once Belarus was a social welfare state, but now we cannot say that it is still such a state. People have been driven into the corner by this tax on ‘parasites’. In small towns, the number of the unemployed is soaring, but they did introduce the tax,” Agnieszka Romaszewska Guzy stressed.

Decree Nr 3 signed by president Alyaksandr Lukashenka in April, 2015 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 notorious decree caused a massive public outcry. In February-March, protests were held in a number of Belarusian cities and towns. On March 21, the Belarusian leader said Decree Nr 3 would not be abolished or suspended.

On March 25, Belarusians came to main squares of their cities to protest the ‘parasite’ law and celebrate the unofficial Freedom Day. But the Minsk riot police brutally dispersed the protest. Hundreds of people – even women, elderly people, journalists and ordinary passers-by – were arrested, battered and jailed. On Monday, judicial machinery was launched.

Belsat.eu