29 March 2024, Friday, 10:39
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Leanid Zlotnikau: Big Business Has No Way to Belarus

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Leanid Zlotnikau: Big Business Has No Way to Belarus

The authorities try to milk business in a difficult economic situation.

It is hard for large foreign investors to work in Belarus. Leanid Zlotnikau told in the interview to charter97.org.

- Detention of businessmen in Belarus continues. Recently, the KGB has arrested heads of IBA Group. What is the reason for detentions? Does the state try to milk the business because of severe economic situation?

- We have enough corruption, like in any other country. And if you want you can find anyone to arrest. I heard that its leadership had been engaged in work in the public sector and had allegedly paid under the counter. You know, they worked for the Council of Ministers, other government agencies, and given our corruption, it is hard to make money there. Therefore, it is possible that there was corruption and charges can carry a reasonable character.

- Will detentions scare away possible foreign investors?

- Of course, there is a problem with foreign investors, because we still valid investment contracts. An investor comes and negotiates the terms of work with the regional administration or the administration of Lukashenka. But the serious business does not agree to such terms, because it understands that it smells of corruption. But small businesses can do it - and then it is not clear what happens to him.

In other countries, as a rule, the national law applies to private investors. So it's time to remove these agreements with officials who can always use this opportunity to put pressure on an investor and extort bribes. Belarus has not reliable legal situation in this regard.

- Can the Belarusian business drive to other countries?

- As I said, the situation in Belarus is more complicated than in other countries. And we could be accused of corruption, even if it was not.

I am not aware of statistics. In Belarus, for example, there is a large organization, a branch of a foreign company that operates in Hi-Tech Park and has high revenue. They pay taxes and increase the inflow of foreign exchange every year. They earn more currency than, let's say, MAZ, MTZ and BelAZ together. In general, there are cases when legal business in the IT-field works in our country. Another question is how long it will last.

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