Belarusian market vendors to protest union leader's jail sentence
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 28 June 2013 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Belarusian market vendors to protest union leader's jail sentence, 28 June 2013, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/51e79b7010.html [accessed 27 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
June 28, 2013
By RFE/RL's Belarus Service
MINSK – Vendors at Minsk's Zdanovichy market have announced a plan to protest the jail sentence given to the chairman of the Perspektiva public union over a one-day retailers' strike.
Anatol Shumchanka was sentenced on to five days in jail for "organization of an unsanctioned gathering."
Many entrepreneurs across Belarus participated in the June 27 strike, demanding that the government quit the Customs Union, which includes Kazakhstan and Russia.
Market vendor organizers told RFE/RL's Belarus Service they will stop paying taxes if the Customs Union's new product quality certification requirements, which they call cumbersome and costly, are not rescinded.
The new rules are scheduled to take effect on July 1.
The Customs Union, meant to ease trade between the three members, was launched in 2010.
Moscow says the goal is to create a Eurasian economic union modeled after the European Union.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
