Aliaksandr Lukashenka today took part in the opening ceremony of Minsk’s 42nd City Polyclinic in the Uskhodni microdistrict. In his speech, he spoke about war, how to unite the country through healthcare, and once again about “relieving pressure on Minsk” in order to save rural areas.
“We tried to create a very good clinic here, a polyclinic of the future. So that the standard here would be no worse than abroad. And so that you would admire your own facilities rather than something you see on television. We have created such a polyclinic. This is a symbolic event for more than just Uruchcha and the hero city of Minsk. We are opening the most modern, the most advanced one. That is how it should be. Each time we open more modern healthcare and education facilities. In this way, we are completing the network of social institutions in this microdistrict,” he said.
Lukashenka stressed that he had personally ordered the area to be developed.
“As I was driving to this beautiful corner of our Belarus, I thought about the long period of my life that passed in this microdistrict. It was not as beautiful then. And driving along this road, I always told the mayor of Minsk that this area should not remain empty — people should live here. Because this is one of the most beautiful and convenient corners of our Minsk. It has changed. I can see that the country is changing. The main thing is that we are living peacefully, quietly and calmly,” he said.
According to Lukashenka, the best doctors will work at the polyclinic. At the same time, he stressed that he did not want to offend district doctors.
“The most advanced, the best doctors will serve here. Not because our medical workers in Mstsislau, Khotimsk, Lida, Staubtsy and other towns are worse. But because Minsk doctors can access the most modern technologies earlier than others and master them. Uladzimir Yauhenavich [Kukharau], you of all people know how much money we invest in Minsk. We are creating a very serious base here,” he continued.
“Let us stop whining and crying that we do not have enough people. I want everything in Belarus to be beautiful and of high quality. We have enough people. We need to build the system so that the people we have can work, earn money and serve the population. This applies to the Health Ministry by more than 200 percent. Doctors are like the president: they work as much as needed,” Lukashenka added.
He also instructed officials to develop solutions so that Minsk healthcare facilities could serve other regions as well.
“We need to make sure that those who live farther from Minsk can also receive help here. Of course, we are doing this for Minsk. There we are doing it for other districts and regions. But here there are more advanced technologies. We cannot allow people on the outskirts of our country, farther from Minsk, to reject Minsk residents. By developing Minsk, I am doing everything to prevent this contrast. So that there are no contradictions in our country. The country must be united and monolithic. Much will depend on our steps to ensure the health of our people. We need to think about this,” he said.
Lukashenka also warned those gathered about war if they were not united around him.
“All of us, Belarusians, live without war because we are united. We got our latest vaccination in 2020. Doctors know which one. We saw it, felt it, experienced it, compared it and drew conclusions. We see who has drawn conclusions — go and live, this is your land. I have no right to deprive you of this patch of land. But if you come to us again with guns and try to turn everything upside down, then blame yourselves. We will not allow this. And whatever it costs me, I will first and foremost come out in defence of your peaceful and calm life.
It is not about me. I will live on. But my responsibility as president, whom you elected, is to protect you and your family, your children. That is the purpose of any president,” he said.
Lukashenka also returned to his favourite topic of the need to “relieve pressure on Minsk.”
“Yes, we will build housing little by little somewhere. But do not think that we will expand housing construction in Minsk the way we used to. This is primarily in your interests. If we overpopulate Minsk, first of all we will pull in all the labour force, which must not happen under any circumstances. You can already see that we have a labour shortage in the regions, especially in agriculture.
And everyone wants to eat. And eat well. You know how much attention I pay to agriculture. Or rather, not even to agriculture, but to saving the countryside. We must preserve the village. Without it we are nothing. Soon we will be taking buses to villages to milk cows if we continue with such a policy. That is why we need to build there as well. And secondly, we need to relieve pressure on Minsk. You can already see that it is impossible to get through during rush hour,” he said.
Despite Lukashenka’s statements, large housing construction projects continue in Minsk. In addition to Minsk World, these include Northern Shore and the Zialiony Bor district on the site of a former landfill. Housing construction is also actively taking place just outside the ring road, formally already in Minsk District. In 2025, Minsk’s population fell by 1,639 to 1.995 million people, while Minsk District’s population increased by 6,555 people.
