Lukashenka gives 4,000 hectares of land near Lahoisk to Qatar

The cadastral price of the plot of land is $7.5 million.

Russia, Chine and Venezuela became Belarus's “friends” because they were ready to offer oil, gas and cheap loans. Meanwhile, Belarus is strengthening its ties with Qatar in the Near East, though the trade turnover between Belarus and Qatar can be compared to a statistical error (about $2.5 million in its best years). However, it doesn't hinder the Arabs to show their keen interest in Belarus. Aliaksandr Lukashenka's son Viktor is personally responsible for the cooperation with the country, Nasha Niva writes.

In 2011, the project Qatari Island was announced. It was planned to create a special zone with Arab cultural and business centres near Brest and organise direct flights from the regional airport to Doha.

But Qatar chose to start the construction in Minsk. A sports centre, a cinema and a hotel are being constructed near the football arena. It was planned to open the complex by the Ice Hockey World Championship, but the opening was postponed.

The project costs $180 million.

Qatar is the absolute monarchy with all its foreign assets owned by the sheikh. The Minsk project is being implemented by the Armed Forces of Qatar that have their own investment fund. The symbol of the Qatar army is a falcon, so the newly established company received the name Sokol (falcon).

Another priority business of Qatar in Belarus is purchasing lands. Under Belarusian laws, foreigners cannot buy land to own it, so they lease it for a period of 99 years.

It became known that Qatar leased 25 hectares of forests near Dubrouskaye Reservoir 20 kilometres from Minsk in the direction of Lahoisk. The plot of land was given in April 2013 for the construction and operation of a residence. Poles for a 4-metre fence were installed around the land plot. This is only a small part of Qatar's lands in the Lahoisk district.

Izbishcha, Pahost, Vuhar, Liasniki and other villages feel the presence of a strange neighbour. People living in the north of the Lahoisk district began to complain about it at the beginning of the year. The new owner began to install a two-metre high fence. The locals were cordoned off the forest. Later, the River Dvinasa was blocked. Signs “Attention! The territory is leased. No trespassing” can be seen around the perimeter. Some local residents managed to enter the prohibited area, but hardly escaped. People say someone shot at them.

Qatar takes the security issue seriously. They did not hire local residents, but employed security guards from Minsk. Retired law-enforcement officers are said to earn $2000 per month working in shifts.

New owners prepared a place in the forest for a helicopter landing site and a base. They also plan to construct several bridges. They also released deers into an experimental area for hunting. Locals says they already hear gunshots in the forest.

Another huge plot of Qatar land was found in the centre of the Lahoisk district, near the villages of Yulyanava and Zavishinskaya. The land plot border goes along the River Dvinosa up to Pleshchanitsy Reservoir.

Local residents are not happy with the new neighbour, but cannot do anything. “The decision on leasing out 99 hectares of land to a representative of Qatar was taken on the presidential level,” onliner.by quoted in spring representatives of the Zadorye rural executive council.

The fenced area seems to significantly exceed 99 hectares.

Nasha Niva found the document that can prove it. On April 24, 2013, the Lahoisk district executive committee signed agreement No. 977 with the investment company Sokol, a representative of Qatar, on leasing land plots. Under the document, the Arabs must pay 2.8 billion rubles per year (about $270,000).

The main question is the square of the leased lands. Both plots of land (near Izbishcha and Yulyanava) make 3,897 hectares together. The area for hunting, which is the purpose of the lease deal, is about 40 square kilometres. It is 5,500 football fields or 20 such countries as Monaco.

The land was allocated and used for construction without public hearings. Lukashenka's decree No. 302 of July 9, 2012, and decision of the Minsk regional executive committee No. 392 of April 10, 2013, on leasing the plots of land to Qatar were marked “for official use only”.