Aleksandr Lukashenko
MINSK, 17 February (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has ordered strict control over prices and ensuring fair pricing as he received the government’s 2025 report on 17 February, BelTA has learned.
The president named inflation as the number one issue worrying citizens. “The government can say they missed the target by just a little, but the fact is that price growth stood at 106.8% against a target of no more than 105%,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated.
At the same time, the head of state considers the aggregate indicator of the Belarusian National Statistics Committee (Belstat) to be unrepresentative. For many goods that are essential for the population, prices have increased substantially more. For example, pork – almost 15%, beef – 12%, fish – 11%, milk and kefir – 9-10%, butter (with 40,000 tonnes of it sitting in warehouses) – 8%, buckwheat – 11%, confectionery – almost 15%, carrots and cabbage – 19-27%. And this is despite the fact that some farmers, in particular the Novitskikh farming enterprise in Luninets District, did not know what to do with these vegetables, the head of state noted.
The president recalled that two years ago, following high-profile price crackdowns, First Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Snopkov announced a new automated price analysis system. “The issue of inflation is extremely acute for the people, and price lawlessness is unacceptable in our country,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.
According to the president, a draft decree has been prepared requesting up to 2.5 million Belarusian rubles annually for the system’s operation.
In this regard, the head of state inquired how this system would help domestic producers or protect consumers from unscrupulous resellers, what results it would bring for citizens, and how much it would allow saving annually.
At the same time, the head of state considers the aggregate indicator of the Belarusian National Statistics Committee (Belstat) to be unrepresentative. For many goods that are essential for the population, prices have increased substantially more. For example, pork – almost 15%, beef – 12%, fish – 11%, milk and kefir – 9-10%, butter (with 40,000 tonnes of it sitting in warehouses) – 8%, buckwheat – 11%, confectionery – almost 15%, carrots and cabbage – 19-27%. And this is despite the fact that some farmers, in particular the Novitskikh farming enterprise in Luninets District, did not know what to do with these vegetables, the head of state noted.
“What is most alarming and outrageous is that this price increase ends up in the pockets of you know who,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The president recalled that two years ago, following high-profile price crackdowns, First Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Snopkov announced a new automated price analysis system. “The issue of inflation is extremely acute for the people, and price lawlessness is unacceptable in our country,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.
The system operates in pilot mode for merely three, and not the most essential, goods (refrigerators, tires, bicycles). Although considerable funds – 5.1 million Belarusian rubles – were spent on its development.
According to the president, a draft decree has been prepared requesting up to 2.5 million Belarusian rubles annually for the system’s operation.
In this regard, the head of state inquired how this system would help domestic producers or protect consumers from unscrupulous resellers, what results it would bring for citizens, and how much it would allow saving annually.
“I repeat for those who do not understand: people eat food, not statistics! Therefore, control over prices must be strict, and the pricing must be fair!” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
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