Brest Businessmen Continue Hunger-Strike

The hunger-strike by businessmen in Brest started by route cab owners on 20 September continues. Radio Liberty informed that now at least two people are taking part in the hunger-strike: Lubou Rezanovich and Lubou Laurukovich, the latter claiming that about six people are on hunger-strike in their apartments with some other fellow businessmen planning to join in.
Cab owners protest against the actions of the taxation agency that makes them pay several tens of millions of rubles worth of the so-called fee for using cars brought to Belarus for commercial purposes. This fee was established on the basis of decree No.140 issued by Aliaxandr Lukashenka in April, however the taxation agencies believe that this fee also concerns those businessmen that brought their cars from abroad much earlier.
The businessmen are trying to repeal the actions of the taxation authorities in Brest Regional Economic Court. However, this court told them that they would adhere to the advice from Minsk.
At the same time today Lubou Laurukovich was summonsed to the regional department of financial investigations where they warned her she has to pay the Republican fee for her car in due time. Otherwise, they threatened criminal action.