Lukashenka Plans to Shake Up the Social Sector

Reform.news Editorial Team · 9 November 2026, 17:03

https://reform.news/en/lukashenka-plans-to-shake-up-the-social-sector/

Aliaksandr Lukashenka plans to “shake up” the social sector in the near future. He made the statement at a meeting on modern approaches to regional development on November 9.

“I want district executive committee chairpersons to prepare for us to shake up the social sector in the near future. We have created so much infrastructure… Take sport, for example: how many hockey players like Pinchuk and Morozov have you developed at this facility? How many talented hockey players have you sent from here to your hockey club in Mahiliou, which plays in the Belarusian championship? How many have you produced here? The governor cannot say how many we have brought up to the next level. I am sure the district executive committee chairperson cannot say either,” Lukashenka said. He added that the ice rink should operate “day and night.”

Lukashenka also addressed the operation of theatres and the new 50-50 funding model, under which state theatres receive only 50% of their operating costs from the state budget.

“Sell tickets and earn money. — ‘We won’t be able to manage; people don’t want to buy tickets.’ Then why do you need to exist if people don’t come to see you?” Lukashenka was quoted as saying by his press service.