Marker vendors from regions to arrive to Minsk for protest rally
- 9.01.2008, 14:36
Today more than 400 regional activists of the campaign “For Free Development of Entrepreneurship” have stated that they will take part in the protest rally I Minsk on January 10. Numerous former private market vendors from markets of Minsk, Vitsebsk, Brest regions, who have lost their job, hope to gather on the square as well.
On December 11 last year Alyaksandr Tsatsura from Salihorsk was arrested for 10 days when the previous protest rally was held in Minsk. Now he says that he has no fear to risk again:
“I have become enraged with all this pressure. I will go tomorrow. Many our people will come to Minsk from Salihorsk. We are going to get to Minsk in different ways. We had a leaflet with was distributed at markets and in shops, all over the city. All citizens of Salihorsk are informed,” the vendor told to Radio Svaboda.
The intentions of Vitsebsk entrepreneurs have been told to the chairman of the vendor’s council of Smalenksi market Syarhei Pasykevich. At the previous protest rally he intentionally gagged his mouth so that policemen could not traditionally accuse him of using obscene words.
“In fact these are rigged charges, these facts haven’t taken place,” Syarhei says. “And not only me, but many people are going to take part in the meeting in Minsk. There are no other variants. Only mass rallies could help, as in fact markets are not working today”.
“Tomorrow we are going to Minsk! But what else could we do?! Almost half of trading posts are empty. We cannot work. I am at home with my child for instance. It is awful. Is it possiple they will spat at us as people? Some people are ready to sleep at the square in Minsk because of that,” Aleh Pyashko, entrepreneurs’ leader from Baranavichy said.
An entrepreneur from a settlement of Uzda Viktar Kryval has been forced to stop selling Minsk bread. He says that local dwellers are upset by that, and ask to defend their interests on October Square as well.
“I had hot Minsk bread! I worked every day! And people continue to come to me. It’s an element of brotherhood. Pensioners, teachers and other people visit me. They say: ‘Benefits have been repealed for us. And now your activities are stopped as well. What is going on in the country? The regime is sneering at its citizens!’ ” the entrepreneur says.