Being unemployed in Belarus means getting sanctioned on top of it. A special tax for unemployed persons titled "On the Prevention of Social Parasitism" forces all citizens out of work for more than six months to pay for the public services provided by the state such as hospitals, schools or streets. Despite an official unemployment rate of one per cent, nearly ten percent of the 4.5 million employed persons received formal notice. Only few can afford the 200 euro fine; no wonder considering an average wage of 350 euro.

Furthermore, Lukashenko tries to suppress the protest against this absurd tax: demonstrations have been violently dissolved, many people were arrested. Among them Orchansk party leader of EL member party Fair World, Aleksander Bulavko.

The European Left urgently demands of Lukashenko to stop repressing the demonstrators and to evaluate the purpose of the issued law. The European Left stands in solidarity at the side of its member party Fair World and calls for the European neighbors of Belarus as well as the Council of Europe not to remain silent on the occurring injustices and to use all diplomatic options to end the repressions and the unjust law.
Gregor Gysi

President of the Party of the European Left (EL)