Expert: Nationalization of private enterprise is happening de-facto

To the economists' opinion, the situation with "Pinsk Wood" contradicts the Directive on liberalization, and the authorities demonstrate their attitude to the private property on the holding's example. The plant's employees are against their director's discharge. 

"Pinsk Wood" employees doubt the decision of Minsk officials to discharge the general director of the private holding Laran Arynich. 

The head of the "Pinsk Wood"'s department on clients service and relations with mediaDzmitry Jakovich said this in the conversation with Euroradio. 

Dzmitry Jakovich: “The general director was elected by the shareholders' council for a certain period of time - this term has not expired yet. Only the same shareholders' council can discharge the general director. Not "Bellespaperpram", which conducted some attempts of the kind before, but the shareholders' council. Or, the observing council can satisfy a personal request on discharge”.

Let us remind you, the state concern "Bellespaperpram" took a decision to fire the general director of the private enterprise "Pinsk Wood" Laran Arynich late at night on January 5. He is to be substituted by another person - Aliaksandr Sudnik - on January 10.  

Dzmitry Jakovich reminded that the state has no shares in the holding. 'Pinsk Wood" joined the concern due to its own initiative one day and continued its own economic, manufacturing, investment and personnel policy by itself. However, the Decree No. 2, signed by the state leader on January 3, made the situation complicated. According to it, the state concern "Bellespaperpram" will rule the private holding "Pinsk Wood". 

Dzmitry Jakovich: “ According to the Decree No. 2 we should follow every order of the concern, both in the personnel policy and in the commercial policy. When we speak about investment projects, about investments from abroad - then how can we speak about attracting investors if the private business is not protected from the state's interference? Alongside with that, this document nearly quotes the "golden share" decree, abolished in 2008”.

An economist Siarhej Chaly is convinced that the decision on "Pinsk Wood" contradicts the very logics of the directive No. 4 on liberalization of economy. According to him, nationalization of the private enterprise is happening de-facto. 

Siarhej Chaly: “In fact, it's not even a return to the "golden share" institute, it's even worse - they pretend they take a deep interest in fulfillment of the labour legislation, while in fact they conduct nationalization of the private enterprise. Or, they appoint their own administration which will do whatever they say in the future. And this is obviously a contradiction with the Directive No. 4, namely, the claim on defense of the proprietor's rights”.

"Pinsk Wood"'s general director still fulfills his duties. However, the holding's shareholders will meet on January 10 and a new director might be appointed. To the opinion of the economist Leanid Zaika, this meeting on January 10 will clearly demonstrate whether the Directive No. 4 will work or whether it will just stay on the paper. 

Leanid Zaika: “The meeting itself and the results of the National Council will be interesting in the context of defense of the private property in Belarus. We have the Directive No. 4. Five days later such a testing situation occurs. This is a test on whether the authorities really have an intention to respect the private property, on how the people involved in the economic sphere realise their property. This will be an illustration for what we call working collectives. In case everything goes in accordance with the concern's scenario, we will say it's no need to adopt resolutions to the Directive No. 4 - everything is clear without this”.

The expert added that it would reflect on foreign investments: the authorities would show their real attitude to the private property.

Euroradio asked the representatives of the concern "Bellespaperpram" what they thought about the fact that the state decided to rule a private enterprise due to its own wish. They sent us to go and read the corresponding President's decree.

"Bellespaperpram" employee": “The President's decree No. 2 dated January 3 has been published. Read it, compare - and you'll understand everything”.

Euroradio: “What if the shareholders' council confronts the concern?”

"Bellespaperpram" employee": “Please read the decree no. 2 attentively”.

Euroradio: “So you think that confrontation is impossible”?

"Bellespaperpram" employee": “Yes”.