Anatol Lyabedzka, the leader of the United Civic Party of Belarus, is going to call on Belarusians to participate in a rally on March 25, Freedom Day, instead of inviting people to another protest action on March 14, the politician told Belsat TV.
“We will not create any problems for the applicants [of the action of entrepreneurs]. We did not expect such reaction. If they believe that there should not be pensioners, students and others who, in fact, will not be attracted only by their slogans , we will not interfere. We have made a decision to withdraw our application. But it means that we will not invite the citizens to show up at the action. We will focus on March 25, Freedom Day. It is the event that we will invite housewives, students, workers to,” Lyabedzka said.
Anatol Lyabedzka repeatedly showed his solidarity to entrepreneurs during protests in Minsk.
Read also: Opposition leader holds action of solidarity with Belarusian entrepreneurs
As reported earlier, Mikalai Statkevich, a former political prisoner, and Anatol Shumchanka, the leader of the entrepreneurs’ organisation ‘Perspectiva’ asked the city authorities for permission to rally in Minsk. Anatol Lyabedzka and his team were about to hold their own protest action on March 14, but Mr Shumchanka blasted the politician’s initiative and asked him to withdraw his application.
The entrepreneurs’ action is expected to start on Monday, March 14, at 13:00. The protesters are set to march along Surganov street from the Academy of Sciences to Bangalore Square, where a rally is to be held.
Beginning 2016, Belarusian self-employed businessmen selling clothes and shoes have to start working in accordance with the new rules that came into force on January, 1. Lukashenka’s Decree 222 of March 16, 2014 canceled the previous benefits in the required package of accompanying documents for the goods and ordered to get for them not only consignment documents, but also a certificate for compliance with the Eurasian Economic Community.
Representatives of entrepreneurs’ movement argued that the Russian market, where they bring cheap Turkish or Chinese clothing from, such documents are difficult to obtain. As a result, the businessman are fined and their goods are seized.
Read also: Protest action: Belarus entrepreneurs shield opposition leader from police (video)
