The Volume of Belarusian Sex Services Market — 100 Thousand Dollars per Day, MIA

16.06.2010 14:16
Архив Редакция

The volume of Belarusian market of sex services is about 100 thousand dollars per day, taking into account the average price for the service of 50-70 dollars per hour. It was reported by the deputy chief of the anti-crime struggle in the sphere of morals of department of drug control and combating human traffic of Belarusian Ministry of Internal Affairs, Vladimir Emelyanov.

According to Interior Ministry representative, in general, in Belarus there was no research conducted on how much money is contained on black market of sex services.

«But in general, we have registered about 1.8 thousand people engaged in prostitution», Vladimir Emelyanov said. «The average price for the service is 50 to 70 dollars. Let’s calculate. Let’s suppose that during one day, for example one of the weekend, all these ladies find one customer. So, they will earn at least 90 thousand dollars together, if we take a minimal cost — 50 dollars. In Minsk, the price can be 100, 200 dollars».

At the same time, Ministry of Interior official said that the most attractive girls work online and often without pimps. Talking about who is generally engaged in prostitution, Vladimir Emelyanov said that among the representatives of the profession there are even 50-year-old women, who has been working in this sphere since Soviet times, BelTA informs.

«And the mean age of prostitutes is 27-30 years. Among them, there are a lot of beautiful young girls, who think that everything to be in the future. There are also students. They consider prostitution as temporary job. They suppose to work a year or two and then quit. Some of them can do that . They quit and forget it as a nightmare. There are some who are prostitutes in life. Nothing can influence them. They easily speak about their job. Without any embarrassment», the representative of Ministry of Internal Affairs stated.

Prostitution in Belarus is not a criminal act, Emelyanov

According to Vladimir Emelyanov, the law provides administrative responsibility for voluntary prostitution in Belarus -article17.5 of the Code of Administrative Offences. «If you are detained for the first time — up to 20 basic values (about 230 dollars), if the second time within a year — up 50 basic values (about 580 dollars). Also in both cases, a person can be arrested for 15 days. But prostitution in Belarus is not a criminal act», Interior Ministry official said.

Talking about whether they are going or not to impose fines for clients of prostitutes in Belarus, Vladimir Emelyanov noted that this was not an issue so easy to solve.

«You have to understand that we have to catch the customer at the spot. It’s a complex of search operations. Great efforts should be made. But will they be justified? However, to prosecute those who use the services of human trafficking victims — it is more realistic option. It’s about that the client knows that a woman engaged in prostitution under duress», the official of the ministry noted.

Speaking about the issue of prostitution legalization in Belarus, Vladimir Emelyanov said that there was no made decision. «Some people think that if prostitution is legalized, then everything will  be good at once. Unfortunately, the experience of some countries shows that it’s not so easy. In Germany, the brothels are out of shadownow, the treasury began to receive money. In legal brothels, sex services are provided by well-groomed women who are under control. And how many clandestine brothels have appeared? Because many of our developments are connected with them. Belarusian girls also get there», Ministry of Interior Affairs representative summed up.

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