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Opinions & Interviews

25 May 2020

Lukashenko compares coronavirus pandemic and mid-1990s

Lukashenko compares coronavirus pandemic and mid-1990s

MINSK, 25 May (BelTA) – The current period is one of the most difficult ones during the presidential time. The country has come under pressure from all sides as it chose its path amid the pandemic. Belarus is the only country in the world that has applied such an approach to fighting the pandemic but  achieved certain results, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he addressed a meeting to discuss  important social, economic, and political matters in Minsk on 25 May, BelTA has learned.

“You know that due to certain circumstances and due to the path that we have chosen in treatment (treatment methods we have chosen?), we are  the only ones in the world with this approach and with certain results. Some people doubt and question this fact. They do not believe that Belarusians were able to pass this stage alone. I am not saying it is over. I have become superstitious over the past months. It is one of the most difficult periods of the entire presidential time” the president said. Viktor Sheiman [Head of the Belarus President Property Management Directorate ] remembers those times when there were bread and food shortages. I often recall that in 1994 the stocks of flour in Minsk were enough to last only three days. Those were really terrible times. How did we pull through I wonder... The Lord must have helped us,” the president said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that he considers the current times difficult not because of the pandemic and the spread of the virus, but because of the pressure from all sides amid this situation. “We had to hold out. All people are different. It is understandable – our authorities are strict. The president gives an instruction and things get done. However, we did not impose any restrictions. We simply took care of people, treated them and so on. This is why people responded differently but mostly well. Anyway, the pressure was quite intense,” he said.

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