Lukashenka: ‘It's Not My Fault!’

26.04.2025, 14:25
29,192

How a dictator had to justify himself for the Pakistanis.

Several conclusions from the ruler's recent statements.

While receiving officials with a report on the development of the Homel region districts affected by the Chernobyl disaster, the ruler touched on the topic of migrants from Pakistan.

It is noteworthy that his recent statements were preceded by an artillery barrage in the form of harsh attacks by court propaganda on Belarusians who dared to be indignant about the idea of bringing 150 thousand foreigners into the country, as well as a demonstrative flogging by punitive bodies that returned to the practice of recording forced apologies.

Apparently, the reaction to the Pakistani initiative at least puzzled, if not alarmed, Lukashenka's entourage. As a result, he himself had to not only explain himself, but also, according to his long-standing habit, blame everything on others.

Having stated that “interested parties simply want to stir up Belarusian society on this topic,” he “switched roles” in this story with his “friend from Pakistan.” Let’s compare two quotes from the ruler’s press service, published two weeks apart.

“Lukashenka noted that Belarus is ready to hire 100-150 thousand Pakistani specialists. “We also agreed with my friend, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, that specialists from various industries will be sent in the near future. Those industries that we ask for. And the Pakistani leadership will help us select such people. Let it be 100 thousand, maybe 120-150 thousand of these specialists. We are ready to accept them in Belarus and create the necessary conditions for their work.”

This initiative was received with great enthusiasm by the Pakistani side.” (April 11, 2025)

And this is a fresh statement made at the above-mentioned meeting on the development of the affected regions:

“During the report, the president spoke about attracting labor migrants to Belarus, including from Pakistan. Lukashenka thus responded to one of the topics that has been discussed on the Internet after his talks with the leaders of Pakistan: “There was such a conversation, they turned to us about labor resources, which they have in excess, but we do not have enough.”

(April 25, 2025)

Such a change in mood is reminiscent of a scene from the Soviet comedy “The Diamond Arm” - “It’s not my fault! He came by himself!”

It turns out that the Pakistani authorities decided on their own initiative to deport a hundred to one and a half thousand migrant workers to Belarus. After all, they have a lot, and Belarus does not have enough. But Lukashenka was not going to justify himself for long. He proceeded with reproaching Belarusians.

— I can say it in the words easy for the people to understand, maybe it will sound unpopularly: well, if someone here is afraid of foreigners, then we should work for three, at least for two. And in the next 10-15 years we will not talk about labor shortages at all. Do we want this? Not really. I am speaking unpopularly, but frankly.

It turned out to be frankly and unpopularly indeed. At least because the labor shortage in Belarus is entirely the result of the efforts of Lukashenka personally and his entourage, who decided to hold on to power at any cost.

We can cite Europe and Russia as an example, which are facing a similar problem of labor shortages, but hundreds of thousands of able-bodied Belarusians were forced to leave the country. Most of them — because of repressions, many — in search of decent wages for their work, so as not to “work for three” on a Belarusian salary.

You can remind Belarusians more than once or twice of “your thesis that labor productivity in Belarus is still two to three times lower than in the European Union,” but the question remains open: who has been ruling the country for the fourth decade, managing the economy manually?

Lukashenka: ‘It's Not My Fault!’

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