Alyaksandr Lukashenka has again threatened crackdowns and prison terms. This time, his anger was directed at employees of agricultural enterprises over improper fertiliser storage. He also said that the EU is asking Belarus to sell fertilisers on world markets, but that he cannot do so because he is prioritising domestic agriculture.
During a visit to Mahiliou Region on April 14, Lukashenka said that when prices for mineral fertilisers were high on foreign markets, he had instructed producers to sell their products to Belarus’s agricultural sector at affordable prices.
“Turchyn calls and says: ‘You understand, fertiliser prices on foreign markets are sky-high.’ Well, naturally. Tomorrow, food prices will be just as high. But we are giving everything to the farmers. You came from the farmers yesterday. The sowing campaign is under way. Yes, I understand. But can we at least give them April until the middle of the month and then sell the rest? Do you understand how much money we would make? Is he wrong? He is right. But I forbade him from doing this in April and in May. You are receiving fertilisers. But I warned the minister, I called Harlou [Agriculture Minister Yury Harlou]: ‘Keep this in mind. God forbid we find fertilisers being stored improperly in even one farm.’ I know how they are stored. They are dumped out in the open air. They are potash fertilisers, they will not rot, they do not decompose quickly. They are not phosphate fertilisers, which either evaporate or dissolve,” Lukashenka said.
Lukashenka recalled how he had set a condition for agricultural enterprises to store fertilisers properly, but cases of mismanagement had been uncovered. He accused agricultural workers of ruining the fertilisers and depriving the state of income.
“How am I supposed to react to this? I took money away from producers, took money away from the budget, we earned less. We could sell it for five times more and receive foreign currency, but I gave it to you and you ruined it,” Lukashenka said.
Lukashenka demanded that State Control Committee chairman Vasiliy Herasimau investigate the matter and imprison those responsible.
“Vasiliy Mikalayevich, look into this across the whole country and put them in prison. If there are more than 10 people, send the minister there as the eleventh. And stay there yourselves. Enough joking around with them. Deal with the district executive committee chairmen as well,” Lukashenka was quoted as saying by his press service.
Lukashenka claimed that EU countries are asking him to sell fertilisers despite sanctions, but that he cannot do so.
“We lost foreign currency. The country lost money for certain projects. We could have taken over the market. We could have wiped the Europeans’ noses in it. They imposed sanctions, and now they are asking us for fertilisers. But I am not giving them any because you need them, and you…” Lukashenka said.
Lukashenka accused Mahiliou Region governor Anatol Isachenka of failing to carry out his instructions.
“Why did you not do what I told you to do? It had to be done overnight!” Lukashenka said. “It is my fault,” Isachenka replied.
“What would my response be? There was that warehouse at the airfield, the roof had collapsed. I brought plastic sheeting and spent the night covering it to protect the nitrogen fertiliser that was stored there. So, well, this is your responsibility,” Lukashenka continued.
Lukashenka said he was outraged that his subordinates were not carrying out his orders under what he described as a dictatorship. He threatened district executive committee chairmen, Deputy Prime Minister Yury Shuleika and the agriculture minister.
“Listen, the president, in a dictatorship, gives an order and my subordinates do not carry it out. What is this? Fine, it is a fact. He [Herasimau] will find people across the country and take them to the detention centre run by Kubrakou. Then we will sort it out. Then the district executive committee chairmen will follow. I appoint them myself: be presidents on your own land. What is stopping you from governing?
As for Shuleika [Deputy Prime Minister Yury Shuleika] and Horlau, I will find a way to hold them accountable. You will answer to the fullest extent if you do not understand what I am telling you. This is elementary. What new thing have I come up with here?” Lukashenka said.
Lukashenka said Belarus could have gained not only economically but also politically from fertiliser sales and took the opportunity to insult Lithuania and other countries.
“I was simply explaining how much money the country could have received. And what political benefit there was. But we rubbed the noses of those Lithuanians and other idiots in it. That is the problem,” he said.
