Alyaksandr Makaeu: «Entrepreneurs shouldn’t go to negotiations while we are in prison»

• 11.12.2007, 14:28

Leaders of Belarusian entrepreneurs and democratic activists, arrested yesterday at the action of protest of entrepreneurs, are guarded to Minsk courts. The entrepreneurs and oppositionists detained before and after the peaceful demonstration are accused of “minor hooliganism” – riot police bear false witness that the detained were using obscene language.

As Alyaksandr Makaeu, one of the entrepreneurs’ leaders, said to the Charter’97 press center before the trial, “Entrepreneurs shouldn’t go to negotiations while people, who defend their rights, are in prison.”

1.000 entrepreneurs took to Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk yesterday. They protested against Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s decrees, which will ruin their business from 1 January. The participants of the action adopted a resolution and brought it to the House of Government.

Anatol Paulovoch, Chairman of the Standing Committee for Industry, Fuel and Energy Complex, Transport, Communication and Businesses came out to speak with entrepreneurs. He offered them to meet and discuss the situation in the nearest days. He guaranteed the participants of the action wouldn’t’ be detained and could take part in the meeting. Viktar Ivashkevich, deputy head of the Belarusian Popular Front, entrepreneurs’ leaders Viktar Garbachou, Viktar Kryval, Viktar Kalei, Alyaksandr Tsestura, Alyaksandr Makaeu, democratic activists Boris Garetski, Krystina Shatikava and Alyaksei Kashkarou go on trial today.