Protesting entrepreneurs unlikely to be deprived of licenses

Aliaksandr Kalinouski, the head of the entrepreneurship department at the economy committee at Minsk City Hall, yesterday told the press that 21 entrepreneurs could see their licenses annulled. The European Radio has learned that Kalinouski was trying to scare the entrepreneurs, because neither district administration nor the official himself have not confirmed this information.

The deprivation of license is justified by the charges that they had allegedly violated the working procedures. The European Radio asked Aliaksandr Kalinouski who was entered into the list, but the official refused to answer this question.

Kalinouski: “A district commission sends 21 cases for further consideration. They will be forwarded to a commission at the Minsk City Hall”.

Euroradio: Where have you obtained this information?

Kalinouski: “The information has been provided by the district administrations”.

Nadzeya Maroz, the chief of registration and license department at the Minsk City Hall, told the European Radio for Belarus that district commissions had sent no information and that she heard about this figure (21) for the first time.

Maroz: “You will get the precise information at the district administrations, because they deal with every particular entrepreneur at their commissions”.

But the administrations of the Central District, the Partisanski District, and the Pershamayski District told the European Radio for Belarus that not a single entrepreneur was deprived of a license this year.

It remains a mystery where this number of 21 entrepreneurs has emerged from. Aliaksandr Kalinouski said in his statement yesterday that a number of “explanations and additions” to the notorious president’s decree No 760 were being drafted. But Paragraph 1.1 in the edict which entrepreneurs want to revoke will not be amended.

Kalinouski: “Interpretations are being prepared, but no amendments to the decree No 760 are planned”.

Euroradio: Does it meet that no significant changes in the law should be expected?

Kalinouski: “Nothing has been drafted”.

Dzmitry Antanevich, the chief of registration and licenses at the Economy Committee of the Minsk City Hall, also confirmed this information to the European Radio for Belarus and assured that no changes should be expected.

Euroradio: Should entrepreneurs expect any facilitation?

Antanevich: Are you talking about Paragraph 1.1? I guess you are not interested in the other provisions. No. No amendments are being drafted. I can assure you that there will be no changes.

Natallya Patseyka, Economy Ministry spokesperson also assured the European Radio that no amendments to the president’s decree were planned.