Lukashenka Tasks State Control Committee With Investigating Belarusian Railway and Stadler Minsk
Reform.news Editorial Team · 23 October 2026, 12:18
https://reform.news/en/lukashenka-tasks-state-control-committee-with-investigating-belarusian-railway-and-stadler-minsk/Aliaksandr Lukashenka has instructed the State Control Committee to investigate Belarusian Railway and the operations of Stadler Minsk. The move follows unsatisfactory results from the rolling stock manufacturer.
“I will not dwell in detail on the history of this company in our country or on the promises made by its owners, which have yet to be fulfilled. The situation is that, as of today, the joint-stock company Stadler Minsk is not delivering the expected results. The development of a Belarusian train has still not reached the production stage,” Lukashenka said, according to his press service.
He noted an increase in the company’s production figures but stressed that its capacity was not being used to the full. Against this background, Lukashenka instructed the State Control Committee to investigate the situation and, in particular, assess Belarusian Railway’s role at the end of the year, as it is supposed to purchase the company’s products.
“There should also be less talk about sanctions and how difficult it is to buy something… Those who need to buy something do so. Most importantly, the government and the Minsk Regional Executive Committee currently have no vision for the company’s future development,” he said.
The Swiss company Stadler opened a plant in Fanipol in the previous decade. It manufactured metro trains and rolling stock for the railway. However, after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, Stadler reduced production in Belarus and transferred some staff to other sites. The company did not fully withdraw from the country or sell the asset.
Two years ago, Belarusian officials said they were working with two Russian companies to explore the possibility of organizing rolling stock assembly at one of the enterprises or establishing a “joint company to restore production” at the Stadler plant. The head of Swiss company Stadler, Peter Spuhler, then denied that ownership of the plant might change.