Anatoly Shumchanka: We won’t make sacrifices

Only Russia will benefit from the innovation in the work of the individual entrepreneurs in accordance with the Customs Union’s technical regulations: in Russia firms already sell accompanying forms.

On June 30 Republican Public Association “Perspective” organized “Choice of entrepreneurs – a civilized modern market economy” Forum, where entrepreneurs were discussing how they would be working under the circumstances created due to the President Decree No.222 and Technical Regulations of the Customs Union.

And even though Belarusan government has prolonged the time until goods from the Customs Union can be sold until March 1, 2015, it doesn’t solve the problem.

How individual entrepreneurs are going to fight for survival? With this question EuroBelarus Information Service turned to Anatol Shumchanka, the leader of the RPA “Perspective”.

- What were the key problems discussed at the Forum for entrepreneurs, which recently took place in Minsk?

- The key problem were the new conditions of work for entrepreneurs from June 1, introduced through the adopted normative acts, which are defining all work of individual entrepreneurs. We are talking about mandatory certification of goods from the countries of Customs Union, and the President Decree No.222, which prescribes to have accompanying forms for all goods.

We want to voice a number of suggestions for resolving the problem; we want to be heard. New area for negotiations is to be created.

- Which one?

- Different areas – at local level and at national level. The authorities will have to take entrepreneurs into consideration anyway.

- The government gave entrepreneurs possibility to sell out stock of goods they brought to Belarus before July 1, 2014. Does this respite resolve the problem?

- It doesn’t; remaining goods will soon end. From July 1, 2014 import of goods from countries of the Customs Union without certificates is forbidden, which will considerably complicate the work of the individual entrepreneurs.

We have been working in certain circumstances for twenty years, and now the authorities want to destroy this order by introducing some absolutely different conditions. However, entrepreneurs in Russia and Kazakhstan are working without any change. Why don’t we just create equal condition for all countries of the Customs Union? Only Russia will benefit from the innovation in the work of the individual entrepreneurs in accordance with the Customs Union’s technical regulations: in Russia firms already sell accompanying forms.

We are watching how the tragedy is unfolding. Only the most successful entrepreneurs will survive; and those who borrowed money from banks and were working their detriment will stop working.

- Some entrepreneurs are declaring voicing their intention to make mass demonstrations against new working conditions.

- We don’t know anything about it. We organized a Forum in order to try and change the situation within the law; we don’t consider the possibility of conducting mass demonstrations.

People should see themselves as part of society, should understand that they are responsible for their future and take the initiative. Leaders are demonstrating initiative and put to prisons, while people are working undisturbedly. But now it will be stopped.

We have our strategy; we won’t be acting according to stereotypes, won’t play the game imposed from above. People have to understand themselves that they can’t put up with it anymore. Indifference has its price; are entrepreneurs ready to pay any price for their indifference?

We won’t make sacrifices; we are to become a nation.

People have to understand that, and the authorities need to see that. But anyway, we will be with entrepreneurs, we will be defending their rights.

I can definitely say that only together we can find a foothold from which we can start looking for mutual understanding and solutions of common problems.