MINSK -- Owners of small and medium-sized businesses in Belarus say they will organize "a warning strike" on June 27 to urge the government to quit the Eurasian Customs Union, which includes Kazakhstan and Russia.
The chairman of the Minsk-based Perspektiva public union, Anatol Shumchanka, told journalists late on June 24 that a forum of Belarusian entrepreneurs has agreed to start collecting signatures for an anti-Customs Union petition.
He said that the Eurasian Customs Union's regulations were adopted without their involvement and go against their interests.
Shumchanka added that the entrepreneurs are ready to start large-scale protests as of July 1.
The Eurasian Customs Union, which is meant to ease trade between the three member states, was launched in 2010.
Russian officials say the eventual goal is to create a Eurasian economic union modeled after the European Union by 2015.
The chairman of the Minsk-based Perspektiva public union, Anatol Shumchanka, told journalists late on June 24 that a forum of Belarusian entrepreneurs has agreed to start collecting signatures for an anti-Customs Union petition.
He said that the Eurasian Customs Union's regulations were adopted without their involvement and go against their interests.
Shumchanka added that the entrepreneurs are ready to start large-scale protests as of July 1.
The Eurasian Customs Union, which is meant to ease trade between the three member states, was launched in 2010.
Russian officials say the eventual goal is to create a Eurasian economic union modeled after the European Union by 2015.