Lukashenko: Petrikov should be no worse than Soligorsk

PETRIKOV, 25 April (BelTA) – Petrikov should be no worse than Soligorsk, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said during a working trip to Petrikov District on 25 April, BelTA has learned.

The head of state recalled that Petrikov is within the area of responsibility of Belaruskali, as the Belaruskali Petrikov Mining and Processing Complex has been operating in the district for five years.

“I instructed that the new potash plant’s area of responsibility is Petrikov. This city should be no worse than Soligorsk,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.

In this context, the president asked how relations are developing between local authorities and the Belaruskali management. As officials told the head of state, every year the chairman of the district executive committee and the head of Belaruskali jointly approve a program of social and economic development, which is then submitted to the regional executive committee for review.

“Do you plan activities every year?” the president asked Chairman of the Petrikov District Executive Committee Aleksandr Veremeyev.

“Yes, we determine the activities and financial support for equipment purchases [every year]. In 2025, we fully equipped the Petrikov Central District Hospital with the help of Belaruskali,” Aleksandr Veremeyev explained.

The president was also informed that several farms in the district are expected to be transferred to Belaruskali and incorporated into the Belaruskali Agro holding company. These are agricultural enterprises considered potentially problematic. In this regard, the Belarusian leader stressed the importance of patronage support. In this case, support for the district’s agricultural enterprises from Belaruskali. At the same time, personnel decisions at these enterprises must remain under the authority of local government bodies.

“Let Belaruskali invest, but technology and personnel are your responsibility. Let them propose candidates, but you must oversee this,” Aleksandr Lukashenko told the Petrikov District head. “We have a strict vertical: the president, then regional executive committee chairs, then district executive committee chairs. You must be the one making decisions, especially personnel decisions. This is the most crucial matter [for local government bodies], and I don't need to remind you of the importance of personnel.”