Interior Minister Ivan Kubrakou held a working meeting in Vitsyebsk in connection with the arrival of workers from Uzbekistan in the region.
As the Ministry of Internal Affairs reports, all of those who arrived have already been assigned to enterprises and organizations across the Vitsyebsk Region.
Kubrakou said that the ministry is carrying out measures aimed at preventing offenses involving foreign nationals. According to him, the situation remains under control and has no impact on public safety or the country’s socio-political situation.
The interior minister called for taking differences in mentality into account and clearly explaining the specifics of Belarusian legislation to foreign nationals, starting from the moment they arrive at the airport.
“We need to be understanding. Sometimes, even when people move from one district to another, there are certain specific features. Here, people have come to another country. We need to explain the specifics of our legislation to the citizens of Uzbekistan. This must be done without fail, starting at the airport. Everything should be explained and communicated,” Kubrakou said.
On July 13, 255 Uzbek citizens arrived in Vitsyebsk to work at enterprises in the region. They had reportedly been promised salaries of $900–1,000 per month, but upon arrival were told they would receive only $500, while accommodation and meals would have to be paid for separately. On July 15, videos circulated in the media in which the newly arrived workers complained about the conditions and said they were ready to return home. Later that day, one of the Uzbek citizens said the issue had been resolved and asked for his earlier video to be deleted, saying it “could have been misinterpreted.”