Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko announced the new decision on the economy after the government meeting in the capital Minsk. Lukashenko announced that there will be a ban on price increases in the country from today.
At the meeting on inflation and price increases, President Lukashenko sharply criticized the lack of adequate control for fair pricing in all sectors, noting that this situation requires urgent intervention.
Lukashenko explained the decision with these words: “It is forbidden to raise prices as of October 6th! It is forbidden! It is forbidden! From today, not tomorrow, so that they do not inflate prices during the day. Nobody should raise prices or make any retrospective pricing.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko said that there may be exceptions for some commodity products and that the Minister of Commerce, governors and the mayor of Minsk are authorized to make these decisions. No one will get a raise except these people.
“ONLY EXCEPTIONS”
Referring to the reasons for the decision, Lukashenko said, “The Prime Minister informed us that the prices were excessively high. However, the increase continued. Prices became exorbitant. Prices cannot be increased anymore. There can only be exceptions, and the control is in the hands of the ministers and governors.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko also warned against the possibility of closure and said, “If any store closes, they will be responsible.” Prosecutors and supervisors were given the task to fulfill the instructions, harsh decisions were made against violations. It was announced that those who violate the ban will be detained and punished.
Chairman of the Council of the Republic Natalya Kochanova was instructed to submit a proposal to the government on the subject. “You’d better find ways to lower prices,” Aleksandr Lukashenko, who wanted prices to fall, told Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Snopkov.