Whilly-nilly: Belarus businessmen forced to donate money for monument to Russian prince in Vitsebsk
The city authorities are trying to make local businesspeople contribute money for erecting a monument to Russian prince and warlord Alexander Nevsky in Vitsebsk.
Earlier, leaflets containing the bank details of a special account for donations for a monument to Russian prince were distributed to local entrepreneurs at trade fairs in Vitsebsk, the Human Rights Center ‘Viasna’ reported. But by the moment, the voluntary involvement has no longer been in question: the city entrepreneurs have been ordered to transfer ‘funds in the amount not less than 50,000 Belarusian rubles’ withing five days and bring a receipt to … a tax inspector. This is the way the City Council’s decision to erect a monument using extra-budgetary funds is being put into practice.
Since 2009, a group of local residents has repeatedly protested against fixing up a monument to a person who hardly ever had any bearing on Vitsebsk. The people appealed to media and the authorities, but in vain. In 2011, the City Council allocated a site for a monument in Millennium Square. It is to be installed in May, 2015.
