Bahdankevich: IMF Had Rather Not Give Lukashenka Credits At All

The Belarusian authorities have been living on credits for over 20 years.

Former head of the National Bank of Belarus Stanislau Bahdankevich stated that in his interview to Radio Racyja.

– Lukashenka called the IMF conditions quite tough – not to increase salaries, to raise the tariffs...

– The head of State’s words are often remote from reality. For example, he makes a tough statement, and at the same time allows “the government” to sign “liberal” provisions. Therefore, up to now there is a possibility of signing an agreement with the IMF. And his statements in order to grandstand are quite another thing.

– The program, made by the “government,” had provided for housing and communal services’ tariffs, hadn’t it?

– Yes, it had, but now the leadership is pretending it cares about the people, and that’s why, they say, the IMF is almost screwing our arms. Well, there are no strict requirements on the IMF’s part, as it was previously stated. And in general, I support the Belarusian economists, who believe that the main thing for the country is reforms, not money.

The Belarusian authorities have been living on credits for over 20 years, and what is the result? They have brought the economy to the recession, inefficiency and lack of competitiveness. Therefore, from the perspective of the reformers it would be better, if the IMF didn’t give any credits. Either they would be given only for some specific economic reforms, – Bahdankevich noted.