Belarus to introduce road tax

Belarus wants to intriduce a road tax that will be added to the cost of petrol or diesel, Belarus Transport Minister Uladzimir Sanouski today said during the cabinet's meeting on transport issues. Belarus is studying the experience of "several European nations" in this regard, he said.

The road department at the Transport Ministry has declined comments on the minister's new proposal but has voiced some thoughts about the matter:

“Currently, we have an excise for fuel. Part of the money is used to fill the road fund. I guess they can call this excise as a tax…"

Previously, the road fund was funded from several sources. This year, one of the sources -- a tax on the users of highways -- was removed. Correspondingly, the money supply for the road fund was reduced”.