Events

YELSK DISTRICT, 26 April (BelTA) – The publication of the Panama Papers, which revelation has led to corruption scandals in a number of countries, is like cracking a nut with a sledgehammer. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko made the relevant statement while talking to mass media on 26 April, BelTA has learned.

“It is only an attempt to get closer to exposing the corrupt practices of the world mafia led by politicians. There are quite many corrupt reporters, too, including those working for the mass media allegedly involved in the Panama Papers investigation. We should not call the event a powerful anti-corruption move,” believes the Belarusian head of state.

Yet Alexander Lukashenko mentioned positive aspects of the leak. “At least for some time thieving scoundrels will be scared. But then there is another aspect of the matter: they will become more artful at stealing. No method to directly strike at the heart of corruption is yet available. We’ll see how things will pan out. But all the noise out of nothing is a political component. Certainly, the event is more political than practical. Yet the entire world has seen the true reach of corruption.”

“The main corrupted people can be found among the rich, who earn huge revenues from oil and gas, from what the god has given to everyone. Politicians are at the center of corruption. Without corrupt politicians there would be no corrupt sportsmen, reporters, people of art…” said Alexander Lukashenko.

The head of state said he is convinced that if, for instance, the USA wanted to bring to light the corrupt component of the entire world, it could be done. “Because corrupt deals are usually made in hard currencies, in U.S. dollars. And American financial agencies can see every dollar. They know how money is moved and where it is hidden,” said Alexander Lukashenko.

“Corruption is thickest among those, who are richer, and in the countries, which citizens are the richest ones. But they don’t need revelations of this kind. One can compare the leak of the Panama Papers to cracking a nut with a sledgehammer,” added the Belarusian leader.