27 March 2025, 13:16

Lukashenko orders to bring to order Brest and Mogilev

MINSK, 27 March (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko gave an instruction to bring to order Brest and Mogilev as he chaired a meeting to approve the appointment of heads of local authorities on 27 March, BelTA has learned.

Sergei Chertkov, Director General of the Mogilevliftmash elevator manufacturer, was appointed the Mogilev mayor.

“They say that [factory] directors are now clinging on to their jobs very tightly. It seems you are not the case. Or were you browbeaten, forced to leave?” asked Aleksandr Lukashenko.

“I was not. I received an offer. I weighed all pros and cons and came to the conclusion that this would be right for the region and for my personal development,” Sergei Chertkov said. “The plant is now operating normally (all targets are expected to be met in the first quarter). Yes, this year will be challenging, but I think the prospects are excellent. Indeed, the Russian Federation plans to replace 120,000 elevators by 2030; there are also new construction projects there. Plus, Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Georgia, Uzbekistan – there are markets to work on. I think everything will be fine with the enterprise. Mogilev has also been developing rapidly in recent years, and we should keep it up, we need to move on.”

The head of state remarked that he was very familiar with Sergei Chertkov's family, especially his father. “He was such an upstanding man. He was one of those rare people who back then, in Soviet times, took the risk of joining the incumbent President. Such people were very few as others were afraid and so on. I want you to work conscientiously. This is your city. I am sure you love it. We need to develop Mogilev. Yes, it is a promising, growing city, a lot has been done there recently. But Mogilev lags behind other cities, practically all of them. Maybe it is the same with Brest. Therefore, we need to set things to rights both in Brest and Mogilev, especially Mogilev,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The president noted that Mogilev has its unique vibe. The city’s Podnikolye Park has recently been tidied up, and is now one of favorite recreation areas for local residents. “They are proud of it. The Dnieper embankment is a jewel of the city, and we need to landscape its other side, too. It is a good place for people to go out and relax, especially since they have such a river. We will do everything we can to support it. I would like Mogilev to be like Gomel. Gomel is beautiful. There is a river there, too. Grodno is a special city. I have always envied Grodno residents,” the Belarusian leader remarked.

Aleksandr Lukashenko admitted that he loves Belarusian regional capitals very much, but Mogilev needs to be spruced up. “There are places with a lot of potential (and we are already untapping it) that can improve the urban environment in Mogilev,” he emphasized.