News & Events in Belarus

Preparation for elections, economic projections, eye on export, Belarus’ defense in President’s Week

The work schedule of the Belarus president is always full of events. Aleksandr Lukashenko holds conferences and working meetings on the most topical matters concerning the country’s development, regularly visits the regions, goes on foreign trips and welcomes foreign guests, talks to reporters, signs decrees and laws. And even if there are no public events, it does not mean that the head of state does not work. It must be said that even when he relaxes, for instance, by playing ice hockey or chopping firewood, Aleksandr Lukashenko happens to find the time to give yet another instruction. All the decisions must be prompted by life, he likes to say.

The President’s Week project is intended for those, who want to keep up with the head of state, be up-to-date on the latest statements and decisions of the Belarusian leader.

What is the “expert filter” under the Council of the Republic supposed to do? How will the upper chamber of the parliament join preparations for the forthcoming elections? How is the country going to develop next year? Will salaries rise? What will happen to prices and inflation? What are the prospects of Belarus’ export? Any bottlenecks left? What purpose will the Belarusian ambassador to Russia’s commission serve? How is Belarus connected to Vladimir Lenin’s birthplace? What specific comeback did the speaker of the Kyrgyz parliament tell the president about? How will money reach Belarusian kids? How will Lukashenko’s new foundation spend money? Key takeaways from the president’s military Friday: why Belarus needs fortified districts, whether the country is ready for any scenario and will be able to protect itself or not; who is pushing Russians to use nukes, whether western neighbors can pursue a policy regardless of the USA’s wishes. These and many other questions are covered by the latest episode of BelTA’s special project President’s Week.

 

JOB FOR THE SENATE. What did Lukashenko and Kochanova discuss?

The president began yet another work week by meeting with Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Natalya Kochanova on 2 October. A number of matters were discussed. Such as, naturally, the lawmaking process, which is one of the key functions of the upper chamber of the Belarusian parliament. And more than that. Work with municipal councils of deputies in the regions, personal meetings to hear out problems and complaints of citizens. All of it is becoming more and more topical taking into account the forthcoming large-scale election campaign. This is why the conversation of Aleksandr Lukashenko and Natalya Kochanova covered many things.

A filter made of experts

One of the issues that the head of state touched upon was the lawmaking process during the work of the upper house of parliament of the current convocation. “Maybe there are any shortcomings that we should take into account after the elections in the future,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

“Over the past period we have considered 305 normative legal acts, draft laws (over 100 of them this year). We have practically 92% of laws harmonized with the updated Constitution,” Natalya Kochanova said. This work would be finalized soon. “There are a few bills left. They will be passed in the near future. We will complete this work in accordance with the deadlines,” she emphasized.

Aleksandr Lukashenko and Natalya Kochanova also discussed the operation of the expert council set up under the Council of the Republic to ensure a comprehensive review of draft normative legal acts and assessment of the consequences of their adoption. They also discussed the expert and advisory subcouncil, which considers topical aspects of the legislation and makes proposals for its further improvement.

The head of state was interested in the operation of the two structures, their positive and, perhaps, negative experience: “Is there anything wrong here? Hasn't this expert council become an appendage of some other governmental body?”

“We agreed that this would be an expert body to filter documents that are submitted to the president. This is very important for the system to stay balanced. So I thought that this council would come in handy. There should be no red tape there either. This should not be allowed under any circumstances,” Aleksandr Lukashenko warned.

“These are effective structures. It is very important for us to work with people, to identify the most pressing issues. It is necessary to regulate the legislation as well. Therefore, we are actively working on the consideration of normative legal acts,” Natalya Kochanova told the media. “Ordinary residents of our country, who sometimes come to us with their initiatives and proposals, can take part in the work of the Expert Council. We see that this person is deeply interested in addressing this very problem. When we consider an issue at the Expert Council, we are very happy to invite everyone who is involved in the consideration of this subject.”

Patronage over municipal councils of deputies

The meeting also highlighted the work of the Council of the Republic with local councils of deputies. “We have agreed that the Council of the Republic will take local councils under its patronage. This is your area of responsibility,” the head of state said. “No one will do this job better than you, the Council of the Republic. How are things going here? What should be done in the future?” the president asked.

Forthcoming elections and help for the Central Election Commission

“The topic of elections is very important, too” the head of state continued. “I would ask you, first of all, the Belarus President Administration, if necessary, the parliament (lower house) to get involved in the upcoming elections. After all, you are the commissioner for Minsk.”

“Minsk has always differed from the rest of the country. How are things going here?” Aleksandr Lukashenko asked. He recalled that it was necessary to examine the readiness of all the authorities for the upcoming elections and, if needed, to provide assistance to the Central Election Commission. “We need to help the Central Election Commission. We do not have any established administrative systems to deal with elections except for the Central Election Commission. The rest are on an amateur basis, so to speak,” the head of state explained. “This issue should be on your radar. You have the necessary experience.”

It is a common fact that the forthcoming election campaign will embrace an absolutely new format for the country – the single voting day – in accordance with the updated Constitution. The country will elect members of councils of deputies of all levels starting with rural councils and ending with the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus.

Natalya Kochanova told reporters: “But we see our role in making sure that, certainly, only people, who worry about problems of their country, who take the life of their country to heart, who love their fellow Belarusians, get elected to the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic. If you are ready for such a job, for the fact that the work will be very complicated, for having to undertake the responsibility for the people, who vote for you… You will not be able to just come and press a button, to wear a lapel badge. You will have to live through their problems, their joys, to visit worker collectives, meet with people, and host receptions. On the whole, it is a great responsibility.”

This is why the choice citizens will make on the ballot day and the choice of those willing to become candidates have to be balanced and thought through. “We will give an assessment to the candidates because we’ve been working alongside them all this time, alongside the people, who were deputies already. And possibly the people, who will want to become deputies. We saw how they work. And it is important not to make errors in this regard,” the head of the upper chamber of the parliament noted.

Community outreach

According to the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus, during the session period senators held more than 200 phone call sessions, 36 personal meetings with citizens (about half of them were onsite). Some 6,000 appeals were considered.

“I can only thank all the senators for working to the full here. People appreciate it, people want to see the authorities, want to talk to representatives of the authorities. You have been performing this job quite well,” the Belarusian leader emphasized.

During the session period senators held more than 200 phone call sessions, 360 remote office sessions (about half of them were onsite). Some 6,000 appeals were considered (their number increased by 6% compared to 2022). The unified remote office hours practice continued, which covered 100% of the districts in Minsk Oblast, Brest Oblast and Minsk.

“We see what problems people have, who go to senators, members of the Council of the Republic to voice their problem. There are also proposals related to lawmaking. This is especially important for us. We are obliged to help people - this is our duty,” the chairwoman of the Council of the Republic said.

TOP TARGETS. What economic parameters does Belarus intend to secure in 2024?

On 2 October Aleksandr Lukashenko signed presidential decrees to approve the most important parameters of Belarus’ social and economic development forecast for the year 2024.

The titles of the documents are self-explanatory. The fact that they were signed at the beginning of October, three months before the new year begins testifies to strong confidence in prospects and correctness of the calculations.

Growth of the GDP, salaries, efforts to curb inflation

The economic policy will be primarily focused on ensuring the sustainability of the economy and increasing the welfare of the population. The gross domestic product is projected to grow by 3.8% thanks to large-scale investment and production programs, export of Belarusian goods, and the expansion of domestic demand.

It is expected that fixed-capital investments will expand by 3.9% in comparable conditions, export of goods and services will increase by 7.6% (mainly due to an increase in physical sales volumes), and real disposable income of the population will grow by 3.5%.

The price containment policy will remain in place. To this end, a target is set for the National Bank and the government to keep the inflation under 6%.

As a result, real salaries are projected to go up by 3.9%. The nominal accrued average monthly salary will rise to Br2,087 in the economy as a whole and to Br1,634 in the public sector.

To achieve the most important parameters, the government is set to approve the country’s target plan for 2024. It will focus on the priority tasks for the government bodies to implement manufacturing, export and investment plans. The tasks set in it will be aimed at balanced economic growth without the risk of provoking macroeconomic shocks. The measures will also be aimed at raising living standards of the population.

Conditions for sustainable growth

The decree on monetary policy targets for 2024 was also adopted to create conditions for sustainable economic growth. The list includes a set of qualitative indicators to ensure the sustainability of the banking system (including as a source of investment resources), and also price and financial stability. These include:
- consumer price growth - not more than 6%;
- international reserve assets - not less than $6 billion;
- the share of banks’ non-performing assets in the assets exposed to credit risk of not more than 10% (maintaining this level will ensure stability of the entire banking system);
- an availability ratio of automated systems of payment market participants to ensure settlement operations - not less than 99.8% (this will make it possible to fully meet the needs of the real sector of the economy and citizens for unimpeded settlements in the country);
- an increase in banks’ claims on the economy - not less than 10%, which will expand resource support for the real sector, satisfying solvent demand for loans, which will become one of the key stimuli for economic growth.

POTASSIUM AS AN EXAMPLE. What needs to improve in Belarusian merchandise export?

On 3 October Aleksandr Lukashenko convened a government conference to discuss the export of Belarusian goods. The president always keeps an eye on the state of matters in this area. It is absolutely clear why. Aleksandr Lukashenko hosted a conference to discuss the export of Belarusian goods at the beginning of the year. Port facilities for transshipping Belarusian cargoes were discussed back then. Potash fertilizers were high on the agenda. The matter was also discussed at the level of the head of state about two months ago. During that government conference the necessary decisions were made and the relevant instructions were given.

While on a working trip to Soligorsk in September, Aleksandr Lukashenko discussed the state of affairs in the potash industry with the Belaruskali director general. The head of the enterprise noted that the company is operating at 80% of its capacity and the figure was much higher than the one registered at the beginning of the year.

After that the president decided to host a government conference with many participants in the Palace of Independence. In order to check what has been done, so to say. To identify the topic of the discussion, the president said: “Our conversation today will focus in a broad sense on selling goods of Belarusian make on the home market and foreign markets. On problems if there are any. On payments to the budget. In a narrow sense we will look at it primarily by using sales of potash fertilizers as an example. And we will consider accompanying issues such as logistics and ports. We’ve talked about them more than once. Secondly, we will talk about oil products. And the same factors: logistics, shipments, payments.”

Ways to get rid of the bottleneck

“The necessary decisions have been made, appropriate instructions have been given. Naturally, despite all kinds of external challenges, we keep working in foreign markets, we feel quite confident there, as Belaruskali CEO Ivan Ivanovich Golovaty told me last week. But naturally, we cannot relax. There are too many obstacles and barriers that we have to overcome,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

One of the bottlenecks impeding Belarus’ export is railroad transport, the president noted.

“Naturally, we no longer use Baltic ports. We use port infrastructure located near St. Petersburg. We look further north at Murmansk ports that can handle millions upon millions of tonnes of cargo that we have to ship. Naturally, we also use ports in the south of the Russian Federation. No one prevents us from working at these ports. But I emphasize once again: the bottleneck is delivery by rail, especially delivery towards St. Petersburg,” Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out.

In this regard, Aleksandr Lukashenko mentioned his recent talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which the parties discussed the possibility of implementing two new major projects. One of which concerns a railroad line from Belarus to St. Petersburg.

The president said: “We discussed the problem of the bottleneck the railway transport represents. And I asked Deputy Prime Minister [Anatoly] Sivak and Prime Minister [Roman Golovchenko] to prepare, let’s say, presentation materials on all the bottlenecks related to cargo transportation by rail in the direction of St. Petersburg before my meeting with the president of Russia that will take place in the near future.”

The head of state explained that there is a large-scale option of implementing the project, i.e. by laying a second track several hundred kilometers long. There is also another option. “Or we may restore Soviet-time passing loops. By restoring passing loops, we will significantly increase shipments of our products in the next few years,” he explained.

In his words, Vladimir Putin backed up the idea. “He said: I haven’t delved deeply into this issue, let’s discuss it at a meeting. We are scheduling this meeting [during a CIS summit in Bishkek in mid-October] and will discuss railway shipments, and naturally, work in ports,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Russia Dmitry Krutoi told reporters that 19 Russian ports, including ports of St. Petersburg, Novorossiysk, and the Far East, are used to export Belarusian goods at present. Most of the work is focused on port facilities in St. Petersburg and Murmansk. Two main options and two alternatives are being considered in Murmansk. Basic batches of pilot goods are being shipped via Murmansk ports now in order to calculate the economic component and compile the business plan. As for St. Petersburg, there are several ports there as well. Now it is necessary to address the problem of the bottleneck railways represent. The simplest solution would be restoring passing loops in Russia.

Belarus’ own port facilities in Russia

During the conference Aleksandr Lukashenko once again raised the matter of creating Belarus’ own port facilities in Russia. The head of state asked participants of the conference what had been done in this regard and what had yet to be done.

“Because once again we have a clash of opinions here. Some say that [the deep-water port of St. Petersburg] Bronka and some other port in Murmansk will be enough for us. Ivan Ivanovich [Golovaty, Belaruskali Director General] says that we should not turn down another port that we are being offered. We need to negotiate. We need to come to terms on another port outside St. Petersburg,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The president remarked he had discussed the matter with President of Russia Vladimir Putin and no objections had been made: “He said literally: if you want to load and work and own some property in other ports near St. Petersburg, I will support you. This is exactly what was said. Although we understand that port facilities and port infrastructure are a very serious thing. Colossal interests are at stake there. Nevertheless, we have Russia’s support. Get down to work!” the head of state said.

“Drowned” idea and a matter of utmost importance

Continuing the conversation about export shipments of Belarusian products, the president addressed a number of important questions to those in attendance: how is the situation developing primarily on the market of potash fertilizers and petroleum products? The head of state demanded that special attention be paid to accounts receivable for mineral fertilizers.

“As for the potash market, I’d also like to know how the situation is evolving. Particularly with regard to accounts receivable. First and foremost, with regard to shipments of mineral fertilizers and potash fertilizers in particular.”

In addition to potash fertilizers Belarus also makes nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers. This is why the head of state recalled that proposals had been previously put forward to set up a single company to sell fertilizers. But the idea has not been implemented. “This idea simply drowned in the government. Some factors keep interfering. Well, they may be interfering not only with you but someone else, too. We have to press forward instead of standing still, including with regard to the organization of sales,” the president said. “We have learned how to produce everything. Moreover, we produce goods in huge quantities that do not correspond to the size of our country and the economy of our country. Some say we don’t know how to sell. We know how to sell, but some people are simply not willing to work or something always stands in their way. Today it will be the last time we discuss the sale of our goods.”

“I’ve said that accounts receivable are a matter of utmost importance. I don’t want to hear any excuses about transactions getting stuck or something else. We have thousands of people working in the central bank and the accompanying bodies. This is why take care of it together with the government. Start working if you can. I repeat there can be no more talk about it,” he said.

During the meeting Aleksandr Lukashenko also touched upon some matters concerning food. The head of state has been closely following this matter recently. The president has made appropriate decisions and given instructions in a number of areas. “All the decisions have been made. Go ahead and work. The government has to organize this work,” the head of state demanded.

After the government conference Chairman of the Belarusian state petrochemical concern Belneftekhim Andrei Rybakov told reporters that it is more important for Belarus to build up its positions on foreign markets than simply holding on to them. The head of state set clear vectors that need quality and fast work in order to keep improving the current dynamics and keep it stable year after year. For instance, in addition to shipments to traditional markets it would be a good idea to expand export to African countries.

KRUTOI’S COMMISSION. What new functions will Belarus’ ambassador to Russia have to do?

After the government conference held to discuss the export of Belarusian goods on 3 October the head of state met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Russia Dmitry Krutoi. The ambassador’s report focused on export to Russia and the agenda of the forthcoming meeting of the two presidents.

“What matters deserve, from your point of view, attention at the highest level here? This is important given the upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in just a week and a half,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

It was revealed during the meeting that a commission will be set up in Belarus to take care of the export of Belarusian goods. It will be chaired by Dmitry Krutoi. The head of state is expected to sign the relevant decree soon.

“Give yourself the necessary powers in this decree,” the president said. “Of course, this will be an extra workload for your current staff. But never mind. As a new person you will be able to find the people who are underutilized or who can handle a larger amount of work. You can also involve ministers, the government apparatus. It is necessary to involve everyone that you think necessary to involve,” the head of state said.

At the same time Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that if the commission has any questions, it should address the president directly. “It’s up to you how you will arrange this work. If people contact me, they will be immediately redirected to you. And you will get together and discuss things. You have a great sense of teamwork, I think you are also a responsible person. Report directly and tell me what needs to be done,” the president said.

“We have survived. Now we need to rise from our knees. Regardless of sanctions the whole world is ready to buy mineral fertilizers and petroleum products. Even Russia has a shortage of these products. Therefore, there are no goods in Belarus that we cannot sell. We just have to work hard. You and your commission are responsible for particularly important product groups,” the head of state emphasized.

Dmitry Krutoi told reporters that the president demanded that this commission not interfere in the operation of enterprises, but be a kind of an umbrella organization and make proposals on fundamental issues. For instance, issues concerning logistics or railway tariffs. The director of an enterprise in Belarus cannot independently solve such issues and requires intervention at a higher level. The commission will focus on critical product groups. The head of state instructed to identify 75 such products.

DELEGATION FROM ULYANOVSK OBLAST. How are Belarus and Vladimir Lenin’s birthplace connected?

On 5 October the Belarus president met with Governor of Russia’s Ulyanovsk Oblast Alexei Russkikh. “Ulyanovsk Oblast has a similar ideology. This oblast is also close to us because the man [Vladimir Ulyanov aka Vladimir Lenin], who stood at the origins of our common state, was born and grew up there. I don’t know your attitude to this but I treat it with reverence because history is important, it has to be respected whatever happened in the past,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Relations between Minsk and Ulyanovsk have been established for decades. Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that Ulyanovsk Oblast has always been known for its initiative, creativity, and attention to youth affairs. And it is very important that it pays a lot of attention to vulnerable population categories, to those who need support.

“Today we are actively seeking new contact points taking into account the potential that has been accumulated already. We are establishing deeper interaction through manufacturing cooperation ties in the manufacturing sector. The current situation offers an opportunity for reaching a new level of manufacturing cooperation. All the necessary decisions have been made at the level of the heads of state,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

According to the president, Belarus’ economic ties with Ulyanovsk Oblast rely on the manufacturing sector with a focus on science-intensive technologies. For an example, for a number of years Belarusian enterprises have been shipping their products to assembly lines of the Russian automaker UAZ and the Russian engine manufacturer UMZ. A program for the 2021-2023 period is nearing completion. The realization of a joint project to make semitrailers based on MAZ chassis in Ulyanovsk Oblast continues. Radioelectronics is another area where solid manufacturing cooperation ties have been established. The Belarusian company Integral supplies a broad range of electronic components, display modules and video monitors to the Russian defense industry.

Speaking about prospects of cooperation with Ulyanovsk Oblast, the head of state suggested using the serious manufacturing capabilities Belarus had inherited from the USSR in order to make various machines, vehicles, and equipment ranging from agricultural machines to equipment used for aircraft repairs. “We have preserved these capabilities and multiplied them. We can use them together today. President Putin and I have agreed on it,” he remarked.

Aleksandr Lukashenko referred to aircraft manufacturing as the most important aspect of technological progress, the assimilation of the latest scientific accomplishments into production. The head of state has recently discussed the matter with his Russian counterpart. The presidents reached an agreement on the joint production of aircraft for regional transportation. “It is a future-oriented project that will span years. Investments will be massive but the positive effect will be colossal, too,” the president emphasized. He remarked that Belarusian enterprises already make individual components for aircraft manufacturing. He mentioned they are ready to expand the choice of these parts.

The head of state also mentioned Belarus’ readiness to satisfy Ulyanovsk Oblast’s demand for modern passenger vehicles – electrobuses and buses powered by gas engine fuel. Moreover, the region pays a lot of attention to the development of environmentally friendly transport and tries to make it pay its way while keeping the fares affordable for all population categories.

“Apart from that, we make a broad range of trucks, agricultural machines, municipal vehicles, road construction and maintenance machines. We are ready to train personnel and service these machines and vehicles, supply spare parts,” the Belarusian leader noted.

Aleksandr Lukashenko drew attention to opportunities for cooperation in the sphere of information technologies and digital economy. It is possible to advance interaction in this field, including with China’s assistance with regard to the commercialization of high-tech solutions.

Apart from that, the president drew attention to cooperation opportunities in such promising areas as biotechnologies, microelectronics, power engineering, and composite materials: “All of it enjoys solid demand on the market today and allows securing the technological sovereignty that we need so much.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “If you need our support, you can count on us. I think we don’t have to compete. We should join efforts. There are other parties we can compete with. This is why let’s work together. If you have any questions, problems, feel free to speak sincerely and directly. Today we are ready to make any decisions you may be interested in. We guarantee to you that we will always be dedicated not only to our integration but to our unity in all spheres.”

In turn, the governor thanked Aleksandr Lukashenko for the warm welcome the Ulyanovsk Oblast delegation had received in Belarus. “We didn’t come empty-handed. We brought concrete proposals, which are gainful for all parties and can take relations between Belarus and Ulyanovsk Oblast to new heights. All our proposals sit well with the context of your agreements with our President Vladimir Putin,” Alexei Russkikh said.

WORLD POLES. What global matters did Aleksandr Lukashenko and Kyrgyzstan’s top MP talk about?

On 5 October Aleksandr Lukashenko also met with Speaker of the Parliament (Jogorku Kenesh) of Kyrgyzstan Nurlanbek Shakiev.

“We are not giant countries, and we do not determine the course of world politics. But any country regardless of its size and scale influences the landscape that is currently taking shape on our planet. I am absolutely confident that it will benefit us. The fact that we are forming a multipolar world comes as a great benefit for the whole planet, too. If there are many poles and no monopoly in the world, then, probably, small, large and medium-sized countries will only benefit from it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The president added that both Belarus and Kyrgyzstan adhered to this very policy. Both states are in favor of multipolar development. “This is the future of the whole world,” the Belarusian leader said.

The meeting touched upon not only global matters but quite down-to-earth and practical aspects of cooperation. “We have a lot of points of contact, starting with sugar beet seeds which, unfortunately, we do not know how to produce in the way as you do, and which we have always bought from you. And ending with mechanical engineering and cooperation in the manufacturing sector in general, not only in agriculture. There is room for improvement. You understand this as well as I do,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

The president noted that Belarus and Kyrgyzstan need to bolster regional cooperation first of all. The head of state spoke about the experience of such interaction with Russia. Earlier, Belarus actively worked with Ukraine in this direction.

“I would like to apply this experience to Belarus-Kyrgyzstan relations. Moreover, this is the domain of the parliament,” the head of state said.

Many infrastructure projects are being successfully implemented in Kyrgyzstan today. “If we can be of any use to you in building the infrastructure of your state, in the economy, we are ready to step in. Please convey this message to the leaders of the parliament (they are top-ranking officials). Then we will instruct the government and we will start working on this,” the president stressed.

Belarus and Kyrgyzstan are members of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Collective Security Treaty Organization. Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that the countries closely cooperate in these organizations and there are no closed topics between them today.

“We have very good relations on all fronts. Both at the level of presidents and at the level of the government. We will do everything possible to help Kyrgyzstan get engaged as much as possible. This nation is very active, very advanced. I know Kyrgyzstan well. These are very smart people. Therefore, we will find new common ground. We will work with you in this direction if you are interested in it,” the Belarusian leader said.

It turned out that Nurlanbek Shakiev is not only a politician but a sport fan. He shared his impressions of the previous day’s game between HC Dinamo Minsk and St. Petersburg SKA. The guests from St. Petersburg led 2-0 in the first period but eventually lost to Minsk Dinamo 2-4. “They made a solid comeback from 0-2. Our whole delegation was rooting for Dinamo Minsk. Your team showed the character of the Belarusian people,” the MP said.

“They did well. Especially in the last period. It’s one of the best games so far,” Aleksandr Lukashenko concurred.

SIGNIFICANT ANNIVERSARIES. How does Belarus intend to celebrate the 80th anniversary of liberation and the Victory?

One of the presidential decrees signed by Aleksandr Lukashenko last week is worth mentioning. 2024 will mark 80 years since Belarus was liberated from the Nazi invaders. 2025 will mark 80 years since the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. A lot of time is left but it is necessary to prepare in advance for proper celebration of these days at the state level. This is why Aleksandr Lukashenko signed decree No.316 on preparations for and organization of festive events.

The document was adopted in order to coordinate the work of government agencies and organizations, public associations as they prepare for and properly carry out celebrations of the 80th anniversary of liberation of the Republic of Belarus from the Nazi invaders and the Victory of the Soviet nation in the Great Patriotic War.

The decree has also set up the republican organizational committee for preparing for and conducting the celebrations. It will be led by Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko.

A regulation on the republican organizational committee and a plan for preparing for and conducting the celebrations have also been approved.

The presidential decree is expected to contribute to the patriotic upbringing of the population, to preserving historical memory about the contribution of the Belarusian nation to the victory over fascism.

GOOD REASON. What did Lukashenko talk to Rahmon and Putin about over the phone?

Politics and diplomacy sometimes dictate their own rules in building interstate relations, but they do not cancel friendly personal communication between heads of state. While public holidays represent an occasion to send official congratulatory messages to partners, a personal call on a birthday is more of an informal gesture. Not obligatory, but an important sign of special respect, friendship and focus on further development of cooperation. This is exactly the kind of telephone conversations Aleksandr Lukashenko had with his counterparts from Tajikistan and Russia, who were celebrating their birthdays last week.

The phone call between Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko and Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon took place on 5 October. The Belarusian head of state offered congratulations on the Tajik president’s birthday. Aleksandr Lukashenko and Emomali Rahmon also discussed the most topical matters of bilateral cooperation, interaction on international platforms, including topics, which are supposed to be discussed during the forthcoming CIS summit in Bishkek.

On 7 October Aleksandr Lukashenko placed a phone call to President of Russia Vladimir Putin. The Belarusian head of state warmly congratulated the Russian leader on his birthday. The presidents discussed the most topical matters and the agenda for the near future as well as the schedule of future contacts.

The leaders of Belarus and Russia are expected to meet within the framework of a session of the CIS Heads of State Council, which will take place in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on 13 October. According to agreements, Aleksandr Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin will discuss matters of Belarusian-Russian relations in detail then.

BORDERS OF THE MOTHERLAND. Why does Belarus need fortified districts and what did Lukashenko see in “a resistance nest”?

The president went on a working trip to Brest Oblast on 6 October. The head of state visited the Defense Ministry’s training facility Resistance Nest in the Kobrin fortified district and was made familiar with its engineer equipment and capabilities. The president told reporters about his impressions and the army’s plans. The head of state also shared other insights with them: why the USA’s budget no longer specifies aid for Ukraine, how American tanks replaced Belarusian potassium in Klaipeda, and what to expect from parliamentary elections in Poland. Reporters also asked a few questions about Belarusian affairs. Will the West try to rock the boat in Belarus ahead of elections? What can be done about negligent parents and how can one help their kids? What is the president’s new foundation going to do?

The head of state’s offsite event traditionally began with the oblast governor’s brief report about progress of agricultural work.

Belarus’ fortified districts in the past and the present

The construction of fortified districts began in Belarus in the 1930s. The first ones were built outside Pinsk, Minsk, Slutsk, and Mozyr before Belarus was reunited. But in 1939 Western Belarus was merged with the BSSR and the districts failed to serve their purpose.

Additional fortified districts started appearing in Belarus at the Polish border before the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. However, the work was not completed on time, this is why they couldn’t stop the enemy’s advance for long. Fighting lasted longest in Pinsk as the fortified district stopped the onslaught of Nazi troops for three weeks.

At the beginning of the year the president gave instructions to once again analyze how the country’s defense and protection are organized. The president wanted the army to take into account the forms and methods of warfare used in Ukraine. Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin told reporters that Belarus’ Armed Forces do not ignore what is going on around the country. They constantly study the rapidly changing situation in addition to training personnel and assimilating innovations into practice.

“We’ve come to the conclusion that we have to set up fortified districts able to withstand aviation strikes and artillery barrages. The main principle we are implementing is autonomous combat operations, preservation of people’s lives, and the ability to hold these positions,” Viktor Khrenin explained.

Thanks to such fortified districts Ukraine managed to halt the advance of the Russian army in several areas for a long time. In turn, thanks to the increased defense of territories the Russian army doomed Ukraine’s counteroffensive to failure.

A fortified district like that was demonstrated to the head of state in Brest Oblast. To be exact, one of the district’s components – a resistance nest.

Their main purpose is to cover the most operationally and tactically important areas and the routes the advancing adversary is likely to use in order to repel superior enemy forces and enable conditions conducive to operations of one’s own troops.

The president was shown premises for accommodating the personnel, the command and observation post of the company commander, and the utility block. The head of state also inspected positions of a motorized rifle squad. “No showing off, men! Everything has to be real. Even if you are sure that we will not have to go to war. Window dressing and hazing will be harshly punished. I saw it in the army as a private, a sergeant, and an officer. This is why these things must not happen. Do everything properly,” the Belarusian leader demanded.

Aleksandr Lukashenko also examined existing and perspective means of conducting counterbattery warfare and communications equipment. “Counterbattery fire is a matter of utmost importance. This is why judging by the war in Ukraine if you see that you lack something, you have to clearly say so. Because it is impossible to fight in a modern war without the ability to perform counterbattery fire,” the president noted.

The commander-in-chief emphasized that drones of all kinds play a special role in warfare. He also mentioned it is necessary to equip army units with modern communications solutions. The president also watched a multi-theme exercise of a reinforced motorized rifle company using elements of the resistance nest.

The main task and the ability to attack

Aleksandr Lukashenko spoke in positive terms about what he had seen. This is why the Defense Ministry will continue efforts to set up such training lines of defense across the country.

Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said: “The main task the president wants us to accomplish is to prevent the launch of a war in our territory in addition to protecting peace and defending our state. Instead of simply talking about it we take steps to demonstrate that we are preparing to do just that. We are no aggressors despite attempts of our Western neighbors to claim otherwise. We are getting ready to defend ourselves, defend our land, and will not surrender any piece of our land to anyone.”

While talking to reporters afterwards, the head of state noted that actions of the Belarusian military are focused on defense, but at the same time they need to know how to attack.

“We will no longer need presidential decisions to put our units on full combat alert. We will have many such installations. And in peacetime we will make the necessary preparations in advance, so that we will be able to promptly man these positions if we receive a signal that our neighbors misbehave. We will make preparations to defend our homeland in advance in the areas of likely attacks on our state,” explained Aleksandr Lukashenko.

The ability to inflict unacceptable damage

Considering peculiarities of the location the president visited and the situation (the site is near the border of Poland, which is building up military presence), the reporters asked how Belarus responds to changes of the situation and whether it is ready for any sequence of events from the military point of view.

Aleksandr Lukashenko assured that the Belarusian army had fully absorbed the experience of modern warfare. “By the middle of next year we will have everything we need in full: communications, reconnaissance, unmanned aerial vehicles, including strike drones, reactive armor,” he said.

At the same time the president pointed out that Belarus is not amassing army units near the borders of Poland and the Baltic states for the sake of an attack. “But we will do it actively while defending. In order to launch an offensive at any moment if necessary,” he stressed.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “We are not talking about the more powerful weapons that we now have in order to demonstrate our might and inflict unacceptable damage on the adversary [if Belarus is attacked]. We will not buy thousands of tanks but we can always inflict unacceptable damage. In other words, before attacking Belarus the adversary will have to think about the response that will be unacceptable for them.”

BACK AND FORTH. What does Lukashenko think about Ukraine’s counteroffensive and Zelensky’s actions?

Reporters wondered whether the situation in Ukraine may change after U.S. authorities adopted a temporary budget deal, which excludes financial aid for Ukraine. The president was asked whether it can be considered as a signal that the conflict will soon be resolved.

“They signal Ukraine to hurry up, get the offensive going on a larger scale, and send in more young people,” the president said. “This is not even a signal, but a concrete action: get more Ukrainians killed.”

The head of state believes that Ukraine’s Armed Forces are bogged down in their counteroffensive. The frontline, the line of contact has not changed much recently.

“There is a slight movement back and forth. They are fighting for high grounds. Ukrainians seize some in the morning and Russians get them back by the evening. This counteroffensive was very difficult for them. Its first stage failed. They are now getting ready for the second stage (they need 4-8 weeks),” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The president emphasized that the USA is pushing Ukrainians to hurry up because this war does not reflect well on the U.S. authorities. “They need some kind of victory. They need to put something on the table in order to win. That is why they are hurrying up [Ukrainians]. They are looking for new options, including the termination of support for Vladimir Zelensky,” the head of state said.

As for Vladimir Zelensky himself, mass media often portray him as a beggar and criticize him by saying it does not behoove the Ukraine president to keep requesting aid from other countries. “Zelensky is acting absolutely correctly,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated. The president reminded that the conflict in Ukraine had been planned in advance. The United States of America had wanted Ukraine to be a victim by promising maximum support to the country. And Ukrainian authorities agreed to this role.

Aleksandr Lukashenko went on saying: “We see that Zelensky did wrong by putting an entire country in a tough spot. A rich and solid country. What happened next? He is fighting to the last Ukrainian. Meanwhile, they either don’t do what they promised on time or don’t give what they promise. Zelensky wonders why. And the West (Europeans in particular) do not honor commitments. This is why Vladimir Aleksandrovich [Zelensky] tells them: ‘Why aren’t you doing what you’ve promised?’ He goes and makes demands of them. Is he doing the right thing? He is. They had an agreement.”

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, Vladimir Zelensky now understands that Western partners had played him.

RED BUTTON. Who is pushing Russians towards using nukes?

As he kept talking about the conflict in Ukraine and the USA’s role in the conflict, Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that Americans are testing whatever they need in Ukraine. “More than half a million have already died in Ukraine. Young people do not want to fight and have fled. Now they are grabbing their own people not only in Ukraine. They are grabbing them outside Ukraine (in Poland and other countries) and bringing them there. Plus there are mercenaries. This is the kind of war that is going on in Ukraine now,” the head of state said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko once again emphasized the need to end the hot conflict. “I say it once again: it should be stopped, otherwise things will only get worse. You see that Poles are already ready to seize the west of Ukraine. Russians keep up active defense along the line (I receive daily updates on that). They are already attacking. Ukrainians have nothing to fight with. Even if they do, they still cannot contain this overwhelming power. Therefore, it is necessary to stop now. Otherwise, no one will raise this topic again with Ukrainians or the West in a few months,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “I am getting the impression (I say again that it is my opinion) that Americans are pushing Russians towards using the most terrible weapon. They arm Vladimir Zelensky and his army and provide long-range missiles. Even missiles able to fly for 300km. Can you imagine that powerful missiles will be able to strike 300km into the Russian territory? Do you think the Russian president and the army will calmly watch it happen?”

The reporters mentioned a recent sighting of American Abrams tanks in the port of the Lithuanian city of Klaipeda. Only a couple of years ago Lithuanians took pride in transporting Belarusian potassium and did well off it. Ordinary hardworking Lithuanians and businessmen. But Lithuanian authorities decided to serve interests of their sponsors.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that efforts of the West to inflate tensions and escalate the conflict will make Russians resort to nuclear weapons. “Another deep strike like that and the response will be colossal. Otherwise, what good are these [nuclear] weapons?” Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked.

“The fools think again that they will be safe because they are across the ocean. They will just push the world into this difficult war,” the Belarusian leader stated.

The president drew attention to the lack of unity between the European Union and the United States of America. “Europe and America are not united, no matter how much they try to demonstrate that they are. I know this for a fact based not only on my analysis, but also on the contacts that I’ve personally had. Not only me, but our military and state security people," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The president explained that Europe does not want to go to war. It is in its interests to make sure the conflict in Ukraine does not escalate because the war is going on in the common home. The USA, on the other hand, is far away and can sit it out across the Atlantic. Their only job is to keep the press printing dollars 24/7. Meanwhile, inflation spills over to all the other countries that use the U.S. dollar.

Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized that he absolutely supports the existence of the European Union because it is one of the world’s pillars.

WASHINGTON’S LACKEYS. Can Poland pursue an independent policy against Uncle Sam’s wishes?

When asked about the upcoming elections in Poland, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that even if the opposition comes to power, it remains to be seen what policy they will pursue in relation to Belarus and Russia.

“There is always hope. It’s clear how the incumbent government acts and will act, but it remains to be seen what policy their opponents will pursue. There is some hope that they will get back to their senses and try to mend relations. By the way, Polish diplomats, including those who work in our country, want to patch up relations. Credit where credit is due, they understand what is happening. Yet they have opted for a wait-and-see approach, they are waiting for the elections. They say: ‘If new forces come to power, they might want to reboot relations in some way.’ One can hope for this. But you see that we don’t hope for anything, we are preparing for the worst case scenario in every way we can. Get ready for the worst and hope for the best,” the president said.

The head of state also explained the difference between the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) and their opponents, the Civic Platform party of Donald Tusk. According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, Polish President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki are Washington’s lackeys that are kept on a short leash. Donald Tusk, on the contrary, is a pro-European politician. And there is hope that he will act in the interests of Europe, not the United States.

“And these [the incumbent government of Poland] make their aspirations clear. They want to become global movers and shakers, or at least a new center of gravity. They are arming themselves. Everyone is fed up with them. Germans already hate the leadership of Poland. Or look at the reaction of France. Duda and Morawiecki say that they will ‘change the world’. Madness! They are completely under the sway of Washington. They are stuck. There is no turning back. Although (I have known them for a long time) they might want to make a U-turn. But Americans are no fools - they tied them up tightly. And the fact that they started this squabble with Ukraine over grain that went as far as to exchange insults is a total faux pas on the part of Warsaw. They should have kept quiet. Their verbal attacks on Ukraine are a total blunder. In this situation, they should have kept their mouth shut,” the president said.

At the same time, the president noted that although Donald Tusk is pro-European, he will not pursue anti-American policies. “But I think that at least he will not take orders from Americans like the PiS party does. He is a European man after all,” the head of state is convinced.

Polish authorities exploit existing issues in bilateral relations, for example, illegal migration, exclusively for their populist purposes during the election race. Moreover, it goes to ridiculous lengths, the president noted: the demolition of the wall on the border with Belarus is being put to a referendum. And the Polish side deals with migrants in the most ruthless manner.

“They kill them and dump their bodies on our territory. This is the kind of ‘shitty democracy’ they have,” the Belarusian leader said.

BELARUSIAN POLES. Why does Belarus still waive visas for western neighbors?

Belarusians do not want Poles to consider them enemies, he stressed. “We have never intended to aggravate relations with Poles, never mind fight them. We do not need this. We have 200,000-250,000 Poles living here. Truth be told, these are ‘my’ Poles. I always emphasize this: they are Poles, but they are ‘my’ Poles. They do not want to go to Poland, they live here and will continue living here. They do not cause any problems,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

“We have Poles in positions of power in Belarus. We do not apply such a principle that if you are a Pole you should not get close to the power,” the president said.

The head of state remarked (jokingly or not) that Brest Oblast Governor Yuri Shuleiko might have Polish roots. “He is the governor in the west of the country! I never asked these questions when I was appointing him to this position. Because I am confident that he is pro-Belarusian. Even if he has Polish roots (I really do not know, but it is good if he has them), he is an authority in our country together with Grodno Oblast governor,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

“I am a true internationalist. I do not want Poles to think that Lukashenko is an enemy of Poland. That is how it is presented to the people of Poland. What is Lukashenko? He is the president of Belarus. Hence Belarusians are also an enemy of Poland, they say. I do not want them think like that. I want Poles to know what is going on here,” the president said.

It is for this reason that Belarus has introduced a visa waiver for its western neighbors. Their authorities, on the contrary, are trying to convince their people that it is dangerous to come and stay in Belarus. They say that Belarusian special services are recruiting guests from Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. “What nonsense and stupidity! They cannot think of anything more substantial to use against us. No one grabs them at the border for recruitment. That would be total insanity. God forbid if I learn about it. Such actions would cancel everything we do with regard to openness and the visa waiver,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

“People will figure out everything. I do not want to interfere in their elections, but I do not want Poles to think that their enemies live here. We have always been and we will be good neighbors to them,” he summarized.

ELECTION PROCESS. What is the role of authorities in interaction with voters?

The journalists inquired about preparations for the upcoming election campaign and asked Aleksandr Lukashenko to comment on some statements about the alleged predetermined outcome.

Aleksandr Lukashenko explained that the state does not hide its intention to influence the electoral process, but only the part that concerns working with people, explaining to voters what this or that candidate is really worth, so that no scoundrels can take advantage of the situation. In addition, municipal authorities will be involved in the organization of the electoral process in one way or another, since the Central Election Commission does not have a sufficient number of employees for this.

However, the president ruled out any attempts to put pressure on voters: “You have to ask people. You have to explain things to them. Conveying the truth to the people is the job of the parliament speakers, governors, the entire vertical of power.”

The head of state also stressed the importance of ensuring continuity in the parliament. “We need experience. It is not good when all experienced MPs leave parliament and new ones come in and take a year and a half (I worked in the parliament) to learn which door to enter,” the president said.

When asked to clarify whether the events of 2020 may repeat themselves due to interference of Western countries in the upcoming elections, Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “It will not happen again. It’s impossible.” Belarusians no longer believe in good intentions of the collective West. Because no one in the West said “thank you” after the democratic presidential election took place in the country in 2020.

“Now we will not play democracy games with them. We will approach things solely from our own positions. Because we have seen what kind of ‘democracy’ it is,” the head of state said.

The head of state stressed that Belarus will rely on the experience gained during the 2020 election campaign: “We have already had enough of this. We are experienced people, we are learning properly.”

“They’d better not even try to destabilize the situation in Belarus. We will not allow this. Also because we have you, and I am personally responsible for you. I mean the supporters who have relied on the president, including the defense, security, and law enforcement personnel. I am responsible for you,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “I and all of us will not allow anyone to destabilize the situation in the country. This is your country. Those who are rocking the boat know where it will lead.”

A SYSTEM IS NEEDED. What does the state intend to do to prevent parents from spending child benefits on alcohol?

The head of state was also asked about a high-profile criminal case involving the murder of a three-year-old boy by his parents, about details of the family’s lifestyle, which were revealed during the investigation and the court hearing.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that in such situations, the role of society is certainly important. It should not be indifferent to what is happening around and react timely and take measures.

According to the president, the support of large families by the state is of great importance, as the country needs to improve the demographic situation. But the system must be built in such a way so that the assistance is targeted, that it is spent on the needs of children. In this sense, it is important to organize control over the targeted use of such assistance.

“So that the money allocated by the state reaches children. To be honest, I don’t know what kind of system it will be. This will not be an easy job, and it will be difficult to develop this system. We can’t do it without you. People on the ground should help us with this. But it must be done,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

“Authorities, we must develop such a scheme, a system of behavior so that we know what kind of family they are. People on the ground know. For example, if we learned that the parents are drunkards and will use the allowance to buy alcohol, then we would feed the children, dress them, and school them ourselves,” the president added.

UNDER THE PRESIDENT’S PATRONAGE. What will Lukashenko’s foundation spend money on?

While talking to reporters during the working trip to Brest Oblast, Aleksandr Lukashenko revealed some details of the newly established President’s Foundation.

The head of state noted that he put forward the idea of setting up a single fund under the patronage of the president a long time ago. The idea got traction recently. First of all, the President’s Foundation will be engaged in charity: to raise funds and provide assistance to those who really need it.

“Most importantly, the fund will accumulate money from those who care. On my part, I guarantee that this money will not be misused,” Aleksandr Lukashenko explained.

The foundation has not launched active operations yet: there is no money in its account yet, there is no person in charge, and so on.

“One can say that by approving the foundation’s name, I actually signed up to the cause so that we could raise money and help those in need. This is its main task,” the president added. He noted that a number of foundations and organizations that tried to rock the boat in 2020 under the guise of charity and other public activities had been closed down. After that people found it hard to participate in charity. “We had to close them down. And those, who used to help us and want to do so, cannot do it legally anymore. I suggested setting a fund under the aegis of the president. It will be absolutely transparent. People, who are going to make their contributions, will know where this money goes,” the Belarusian leader said.