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Spontaneous protest prevents tax inspectors from seizing clothes at market near Minsk

 

Minsk, 29 November. A spontaneous protest broke out at the Zhdanovichy market near Minsk on Friday when tax inspectors tried to seize clothes from several vendors without any explanations, Vyachaslaw Pilipuk, an activist of a small business association called Perspektyva, told BelaPAN.

After learning about the raid, other vendors closed their stalls and came to their colleagues` aid, Mr. Pilipuk said. The inspectors retreated from the angry crowd and headed for other stalls, but the vendors followed them and warned that they would not allow any seizures. The inspectors finally called the police. There were about 15 police officers and seven tax inspectors at the market as of 3 p.m., with protesters insisting that they did not have the right to seize anything.

Perspektyva`s chairman, Anatol Shumchanka, later told opposition news site charter97.org that the inspectors had come to the Zhdanovichy market to check whether stallholders had accompanying documents for imported clothing and footwear.

Walkouts and protests by market vendors forced the Belarusian government to promise that the introduction of the Customs Union`s costly certification procedure for imported clothing and footwear would be postponed by one year, until July 1, 2014.

However, to enjoy the reprieve, the vendors are required to produce accompanying documents confirming that their goods were purchased within the Customs Union.