Press review: Entrepreneurs protest against egalitarianism
Both the ordinary consumers and media in Belarus couldn't but notice that market places and shopping outlets have remained closed since after the New Year's Day. Web-based news sources have rung the bells: entrerpeneurs are on strike! “Despite the ordinary mode of operation, over 90 percent of small-size entrepreneurs on January 2 kept their outlets closed. Just few businesses were opened in Minsk at major trading centers. Similar situation could be observed elsewhere in Belarus. This is how entrepreneurs are striking against the president's decree No 760", writes Charter'97.
However, several days after, even those who maintained that entrepreneurs were on strike had to agree that they simply did not resume working after the festive season. Katsyaryna Chyzhyk, the chairperson of the entrepreneurs' council at the Europe and Parking trade centers in Minsk, said in an interview with the European Radio for Belarus:
“50 percent of outlets are open. It is very hard to understand, because some say that they are on strike. On the other hand, they say that they have gone on a leave. There is no precise information available. They wrote on their doors that they are closed due to technical reasons...”
Belarus's Deputy Economy Minister Andrei Tur made numerous statements that there should be no need to worry. He noted in an interview with the Express Novosti newspaper that nobody should talk about any strike:
“January is tradiaonally a 'dead' season for small businesses. A lot of sole entrepreneurs have gone on their leaves”.
However, he told the European Radio for Belarus: the strike will take place on January 10. And it did happen. Over 1000 people came to October Square in Minsk. The Belarusian media had their comments on this event separated.
Nasha Niva writes: “Almost nobody could expect that the January 10 action would have become so much resolute and massive and that many opposition activists and ordinary people would have joined the protesting entrepreneurs”.
Presidential mouthpiece Sovietskaya Belorussia writes that the entrepreneurs who came out to the square simply don't understand what they are doing:
“Those businessmen who came to the square hardly understand absolutely simple things. Generally, they are simple and good folks who are not experts in politics. So they believe sincerely that Mikhalevich-Milinkevich who have not grown and sold a bucket of potatoes in their entire life, can realistically help them with their specific problems”.
Sovietskaya Belorussia laments why an ordinary firm with 5 or 155 employees is taxed in a similar manner, while sole entrepreneurs enjoy tax benefits.
A journalist with the Express Gazeta is somewhat responding to this question. Many sole entrepreneurs do not object to becoming a legal entity. “But not in rush as proposed but gradually when the whole new system is smooth and clear”.
Perhaps, that's why it is not clear where the protesting entrepreneurs are moving to, while the authorities and some national media are simply keeping silence and not noticing the problem. Zviazda did not ink even a line about the protest.
However, several days after, even those who maintained that entrepreneurs were on strike had to agree that they simply did not resume working after the festive season. Katsyaryna Chyzhyk, the chairperson of the entrepreneurs' council at the Europe and Parking trade centers in Minsk, said in an interview with the European Radio for Belarus:
“50 percent of outlets are open. It is very hard to understand, because some say that they are on strike. On the other hand, they say that they have gone on a leave. There is no precise information available. They wrote on their doors that they are closed due to technical reasons...”
Belarus's Deputy Economy Minister Andrei Tur made numerous statements that there should be no need to worry. He noted in an interview with the Express Novosti newspaper that nobody should talk about any strike:
“January is tradiaonally a 'dead' season for small businesses. A lot of sole entrepreneurs have gone on their leaves”.
However, he told the European Radio for Belarus: the strike will take place on January 10. And it did happen. Over 1000 people came to October Square in Minsk. The Belarusian media had their comments on this event separated.
Nasha Niva writes: “Almost nobody could expect that the January 10 action would have become so much resolute and massive and that many opposition activists and ordinary people would have joined the protesting entrepreneurs”.
Presidential mouthpiece Sovietskaya Belorussia writes that the entrepreneurs who came out to the square simply don't understand what they are doing:
“Those businessmen who came to the square hardly understand absolutely simple things. Generally, they are simple and good folks who are not experts in politics. So they believe sincerely that Mikhalevich-Milinkevich who have not grown and sold a bucket of potatoes in their entire life, can realistically help them with their specific problems”.
Sovietskaya Belorussia laments why an ordinary firm with 5 or 155 employees is taxed in a similar manner, while sole entrepreneurs enjoy tax benefits.
A journalist with the Express Gazeta is somewhat responding to this question. Many sole entrepreneurs do not object to becoming a legal entity. “But not in rush as proposed but gradually when the whole new system is smooth and clear”.
Perhaps, that's why it is not clear where the protesting entrepreneurs are moving to, while the authorities and some national media are simply keeping silence and not noticing the problem. Zviazda did not ink even a line about the protest.
