English

Clothing vendors in Minsk join nationwide walkout

 

Some 400 vendors at Zhdanovichy, Minsk's largest marketplace, walked off the job on Thursday, joining a one-day nationwide strike in protest against the introduction of new certification rules for imported clothing and footwear.

The strikers gathered at the market, discussing the situation with the Zhdanovichy administration and city government officials.

Anatol Shumchanka, leader of a small business association called Perspektyva, also met with the vendors. He was later arrested by police on his way from Zhdanovichy to the city's center and remained in custody on Thursday evening. //BelaPAN

Pictures:

4 - Mr. Shumchanka;
5 - representatives of the market administration try to talk the vendors into calling off the strike.