No Visa for ‘Taiga Union’, 80 Euros for Trips to Europe

The regime is afraid to follow the fate of the USSR because of trips of Belarusians to the EU.

As expected, June 6, the Council of the European Union approved serious amendments to its Visa Code. The main change is an increase in the fee for a short-term visa to visit the Schengen area. It equals now to €80.

Belarusians, due to the inaction of the authorities, who can't sign an agreement on readmission with the European Union, fell under the influence of it.

Why do residents of the record-breaking country on the number of Schengen visas have to pay such a large fee? How do the Belarusian authorities fail promising border projects? Why do the authorities build an "iron curtain" on the border with the European Union? Charter97.org discussed it and other things with Viktar Marchyk, an entrepreneur and BNC coordinator in Slonim

- These documents do not play in the hands of the authorities, but now they are trying to put the blame on the European Union. But the simple truth is that the authorities are to blame for this. Even Russia, which is so far from Europe, pays 35 euros for a visa. Our authorities made it possible for our citizens to pay 80 euros for the Schengen.

How do they reason for closed borders? Firstly, there is a large outflow of population, especially the young. Who will work in this country? The second point - the authorities keep saying that "fuel, foreign currency is exported from the country; people do not buy Belarusian goods". The main problem is that officials think with a different place instead of their heads.

We see a new wave of struggle against the competition - the very words of Bellegprom head that "we need to tackle the second-hand shops". This is how our authorities behave: it's easier to close the border than to improve the quality of our products. It's easier to close second-hand shops than to produce affordable, eye-catching clothes of good quality.

The authorities need to do simple and clear things: to stimulate our economy, not to close borders. Remember the 90s. After all, the Poles themselves arrived here to earn a kopeck, to sell something.

Today, Poland has moved forward, and we are not just back in the 90s, it has become even worse. And when the Belarusians, abandoned by the state, are trying to support themselves, they get such a "surprise". Are they waiting for people to take to the streets and overthrow them? You can go to the "taiga union" for free, trips to Europe coss €80. Dear officials, open the borders because Belarus is a European country.

- In due time, the initiative of small border traffic with Poland was proposed. Would it help the residents of the regions of Western Belarus?

- It's a great initiative. As far as I know, Belarus was the one who slowed down this idea, although Poland was ready to cooperate. You should understand that these decisions are too complicated for our authorities.

They will accuse that nobody works, but "exports gasoline, cigarettes, clothes". Yes, there would be someone who could do such things just to survive. But there are many people living in border regions with relatives on the other side. Entire families are separated. Neighbouring countries would be glad to support such an initiative. As usual, our officials are the main obstacle.

- And what do people say about new limits for import of goods?

- It made things hard for ordinary people. But they will still buy cheap food and clothes there. Before the imposition of restrictions, it was possible to bring something to yourself, relatives and neighbours. Raise some money to cover at least road expenses. But 25 kilograms is a very limited amount. It seriously strains the wallet of ordinary people. People are extremely upset. By the way, democratic candidates need to use this in their election campaign. The "abolition of all customs limits" is a great slogan that will be appreciated by residents of the border areas.

- Don't you think that the authorities just want Belarusians to live behind the "Iron Curtain" and for this reason, they boycott the signing of all documents?

- What's more, Lukashenka wants a fee for travel abroad, which he once offered. The man needs money. He doesn't care how it can be raised.

There's a joke that if the air would cost money, Lukashenka would have raised it. Today Russia has pulled the plug on him, it's very hard for him to stay afloat because it's time to pay off debts. He won't be able to fill heads with nonsense. Everybody realizes that these 25 years we've been following the wrong path. They borrowed and ate it out. In addition, officials stole from us. And today we pay out our own money. You know, a person told me yesterday: "I thought we had reached the bottom, but I heard someone's knocking from below".

In addition, the authorities are simply afraid that trips to the EU will remind of the "videotape effect" in the USSR.

People go to Europe, compare, see that TV screens show biased pictures. Belarusians feel that they are constantly deceived. But the Iron Curtain is not possible nowadays. It is not possible in the era of the Internet.

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