Stalting Belarusian entrepreneurs blocked traffic in the center of Grodno

In Belarus, in the framework of the passing nationwide strike of entrepreneurs, on Thursday most markets did not work, street promotions and unauthorized meetings were held in a number of cities.

On Thursday afternoon, about a thousand entrepreneurs blocked traffic along the main street of Grodno, Minsk entrepreneurs entered the protest, ITAR-TASS reports.

Entrepreneurs have been striking on March 1 and say that they intend to continue the protest until March 25. Representatives of small businesses protest against the new principle of levying value added tax (VAT) in the mutual trade of Belarus with Russia.

Belarusian businessmen, the main activity of which is a "shuttle" business between Belarus and Russia, were not ready to transfer from January 1 of this year in trade with the Russian Federation to a new principle of VAT - the country of destination.

In addition to a single tax ($ 150 per month), they should now pay 18 percent VAT on Russian goods. Representatives of small businesses require a meeting with the president and the abolition of VAT. At the same time, they reject the government’s proposals to create a conciliation commission to simplify the mechanism for paying VAT and organize the wholesale markets of Russian goods.

According to ITAR-TASS on Thursday, the press service of the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko in the coming days plans to visit a number of clothing markets and shopping centers of the country in order to understand the problem in detail.