Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 31 July (BelTA) – Crimes committed by morally depraved officials erode public trust in authorities, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said at a session to discuss improvements of anti-corruption laws, BelTA has learnt.

“Crimes committed by corrupt officials erode public trust in authorities, impede the work of social mechanisms, hamper the implementation of investment projects, and badly affect the performance of economic operators. Therefore, any attempt to steal something from the state or to act in defiance of established regulations using connections, gifts, kickbacks, money siphoning schemes, briberies should be punished regardless of the ranks, positions and former achievements of perpetrators,” the President said.

The head of state noted that it is not the first discussion of efficient ways to confront this social ill. “I think there is no need to explain how dangerous corruption is. It is by right considered one of the biggest threats to national security,” Alexander Lukashenko said. In his view, corruption can destroy any, even the most perfect system – social or economic one. The disproportion of income of corrupt and law-abiding people can lead to social protests.

The Belarusian President emphasized that it is important to understand that corruption is not only about bribes, the thing everybody knows about. Corruption schemes are numerous and sophisticated; they are detected in various walks of life and constantly adapt to the changing environment.

Alexander Lukashenko calls for an efficient response to all corruption-related risks and threats. “I believe that we are well-positioned to root out the craving for illegal gains and to create the conditions when easy money lovers will stop to think whether the game is worth the candle,” Alexander Lukashenko emphasized.

“At least, those prisoners who have served or are serving their prison terms have a clear-cut answer to this question – the game is not worth the candle,” the head of state said.