Why Is Lukashenka So Concerned About ‘Mayhem’?

The authorities wrapped up money not only in cement.

This week the State Control Committee had to admit that Lukashenka's "modernization" of cement plants in Belarus had failed. As a result of the failed campaign, more than a billion dollars of budget money was irrevocably "wrapped up" in cement.

Many large-scale initiatives of the dictator had the same "result": it's enough to remember the "modernization" of woodworking or oil industry in Venezuela.

How do citizens of the country assess the activity of the "chief economist"? Andrei Markou, an entrepreneur from Maladzechna, an activist of "European Belarus", answers the questions of Charter97.org.

- A billion dollars is a huge amount for the Belarusian budget. How do you assess the fact that this money was wasted?

- Finally, they admitted this fact. It even gives some hope. Maybe the Belarusian authorities will admit their other mistakes. After all, "modernization" took place not only in this sphere but in many others.

- And why do these modernizations almost always fail?

- In the case of cement plants, the authorities hoped that they would increase production, while the price of cement would remain the same. But they ignored the basic economic law: as production increases, prices for products fall. There should be a ground for an increase in the demand for cement on the market.

Reports showed a complete failure. The main thing is for these people to see, understand that this failure is common for many industries.

After "modernization", almost every sphere faced problems.

All this has the following scenario: one tells Lukashenka that there is an industry that needs "modernization" because it looks promising. He gives a green light and allocates money. As we can see, billions of dollars have been wasted. Later he "washes his hands" saying "I have done everything, now it's your turn to modernize".

It is good if at least half of this money reaches the objects of "modernization". A large part of it disappears in purses. In the end, no one estimates economic indicators. The main thing is to write reports on how much money has been "used". Nobody cares about what happens next.

That's why all of these "modernizations" are failing. One has to analyze many economic factors: peculiarities of a particular industry and enterprises within it, the market need in additional products and so on.

The Belarusian experience shows that all these factors are not taken into account.

- It turns out that economically illiterate people are engaged in "modernization", doesn't it?

- I am sure that there are quite educated people among the economists the government cooperates with.

The main thing here is that the top economic policy does not aim at achieving any significant economic indicators. This is, in principle, a feature of Lukashenka's "economic model".

As it has been said before - "I will not let my country follow the civilized world." This means that he is ready to follow the path of neither Russia nor Europe. He is not ready to carry out rapid (and initially even painful) capitalist reformation with the subsequent increase in incomes for enterprises and the population.

Lukashenka took the "third way". And this is a very strange way, which can be called "economic socialism", but in fact, it is a model of inaction. The model practised in the late Soviet Union that led to its collapse has remained. And the issues that had to be resolved back in the 1980s or 1990s are still unresolved under Lukashenka.

- You collect signatures on pickets as a candidate from European Belarus. How do people assess the economic situation in Belarus?

- I'd like to note that people commonly express their support - at least for the fact that we, activists under the flags of the European Union and white-red-white symbols, are not afraid to take to the streets, be active. People like it.

I have heard a lot of emotional statements about the economy. Just yesterday, a teacher approached me. She said she was hoping for the youth, for the active stratum that could change things for the better. Her son works in the USA. The second son graduated from a conservatory and works in a military band. He was crying when he told how much he earned there and how they clean toilets, instead of making progress in their careers.

Economically, the major part of the population survives. When we collected signatures, there was one house of Electromodul Maladzechna enterprise. It was about to fall apart. I could not believe that people could live there. Compared to what they tell us on TV, it's just another planet.

I offer you to talk to people from bankrupt enterprises. It has a great impact on your mind and after that, you can't just sit still.

- Recently, Lukashenka called these "elections" "mayhem" again. At the same time, he notes that the "elections" are a rehearsal of the "presidential" ones and there will be obstacles for him to overcome this time. Why is the dictator so concerned?

- I think he called it "mayhem" because he saw that a lot of people came from opposition and people trusted them.

Lukashenka understands that there is a strong opposing party. Perhaps, he saw the "picture" of people standing on the streets with national symbols, with banners "Lukashenka must resign" and a lot of people express their support. I think he is very concerned and worried about it.

- Do people's moods at pickets prove that he has something to worry about?

- Yes. People are disappointed with the current authorities. So far, many people in Maladzechna have not overcome fear and, for example, they support us with words, but do not leave their passport data.

It is time for people to understand that there is nothing to be afraid of. If they do not act, everything will remain the same and the country will slowly drown.

I think we all need to be more involved in campaigns. This is the only way we can make a difference and start living a life of dignity.

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