Lukashenka keeps afloat due to “varabeis” and “chizhs”

Granting tax preferences to oligarchs is a crime.

Tax preferences give an opportunity to avoid excise and customs duties. Economist Leanid Zaika spoke to charter97.org about granting preferences to pro-Lukashenka oligarch Mikalai Varabei.

“These tax preferences will be paid by ordinary people. Cheap loans will be given to those on the other side of the barricades. Such preferences as a rule give an opportunity to avoid such important things as excise and customs duties. It again confirms that the authorities and business are partners,” the head of the analytical centre Strategy said.

The expert noted that such preferences was a secondary tool of redistribution of funds.

“They should not exist at all. All people are equal as tax payers and consumers. There should not be friends, associates and so on. The very fact of granting preferences is regarded as dubious in civilized countries and serves as a ground to launch parliamentary anti-corruption checks and investigations,” the economist stressed.

He added that the authorities converts power into money with the help of such Varabeis and Chizhs.

“Frankly speaking, I cannot call these people businessmen. They just take part in the mechanism of redistribution of floating capital, budgetary allocations and different flows,” Leanid Zaika thinks.

We remind that oligarch Mikalai Varabei, who is close to the Belarusian ruler, received preferences for construction of several plants to produce car parts.