MINSK, 31 October (BelTA) – Self-employed businessmen, who buy and sell light industry products, have to operate transparently. The requirement was mentioned as Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko delivered his report to Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko reminded that he had previously given instructions, including to Nikolai Snopkov, to work out approaches to organizing the work of this category. The president said: “We've repeatedly mentioned the operation of these so-called self-employed businessmen, who peddle goods and don't even have invoices for these goods. And back then we agreed it is necessary to help self-employed businessmen, who do this kind of trade, and enable wholesale deliveries of merchandise to Belarus. Directly to Belarus. So that they would not have to travel all over Russia, Türkiye, or China where these goods are flogged to them without invoices. At god knows what prices. And certificates are not always proper.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko recommended that the first deputy prime minister should get back to these instructions. “God help you if these instructions are not fulfilled! This is why you shouldn't push away anyone. And you shouldn't offend them. It is necessary to create an opportunity for them to work. To work transparently. And time has come to operate transparently and not interfere with the operation of the light industry. Because they bring goods of unknown quality and flog it to our people here for cheap. While the performance of our own light industry is constantly falling. [Chairwoman of the Belarusian state light industry concern Bellegprom Tatiana] Lugina mentioned it the other day,” the head of state said.
“This is why we shouldn't offend anyone but they have to operate transparently. And prices have to be under control. According to the government's resolution. Don't forget that we will meet to discuss the matter after 7 November. I want you to be ready to report what has been done, what the market situation is, and so on,” Aleksandr Lukashenko warned.
The Belarusian leader cautioned those, who are disinclined to follow the rules and present unjustified demands to the government. “I'd like to emphasize: those, who present some incomprehensible, illegal demands to the state and do not want to follow the rules we've set, will have to answer for it. Pick some outlet, a shop and go to audit them. ‘We will quit,' they say. Okay but with certain consequences. I've also warned you about it. Feel free to quit, we don't force you to keep working. But the consequences will be very serious.”
“The Chairman of the State Control Committee [Vasily Gerasimov, who was also present during the meeting], will report later on how many apartments those street vendors have. How many apartments they have bought over there, let's say, in some district capital and in Minsk. We will audit all of their properties if they fail to follow the rules. We don't want them to operate in the red. It cannot be allowed. We don't want to set their prices. It is their job. But prices should be set according to the rules defined by the state. It is essential,” Aleksandr Lukashenko concluded.
