Hantsavichy authorities do not allow people to gather cranberries

Hantsavichy District Executive Committee has forbidden inhabitants of the district to gather cranberries till September 5. Meanwhile, inhabitants of the neighbouring Pinsk District were allowed to do it on September 5 according to the order of Brest Region Executive Committee. As a result, Pinskers are gathering cranberries on Hantsvichy swamps too because there are no borders there. Berries are the main source of income for many Hantsavichy inhabitants because the level of unemployment’s is very high and the wages are low (people make 80 thousands a month at a number of agricultural enterprises).

That is why people gather berries despite of the interdiction although violation of the local authorities order may result in a huge fine. People explain the authorities’ decision by arbitrariness while Hantsavichy District Executive Committee refers to the fact that part of the marshland is a natural reserve. The situation with “the cranberry interdiction” has repeated for the fourth time.