«Tsarskoe Selo» of Belarusian authorities

Looks like the name of one street is the only thing reminding of the former community Pionerskiy. It’s hard to believe that a new city district named “Tsarskoe Selo” (“Tsar’s Village,” a royal palace in Russia) has grown here, on shore of Drozdovskoye water reservoir, within a couple of years.

Why “tsar’s”? Probably because in the place, there are no palaces that common people would own, “Narodnaya Volia” reports. And who would allow common people build extra modern houses in the green belt? In fact, powers are given to serve governors best. Why would city’s head called Mr. Pavlov build a house in some abandoned village?! Or maybe a parliamentarian or minister is worse? They also didn’t want to live in the middle of nowhere. If you build a house, then build it near the presidential residence, 200m far from Peramozhtsau Avenue! Neighbours are important too: high ranks, well-known names.

In other words, the ruling clique has built its own Tsarskoe Selo as it was planned. And why not? Not enough money? No problem - walking around Tsarskoe Selo, you can come across National Bank chairperson Piotar Prakapovich, who will eagerly grant you a credit. Perhaps Minsk Tractor Factory worker Pupkin would be asked: buddy, why do you want to build a house when you have an apartment in Minsk with the area sufficient for your family? But it’s not likely that Home Minister Uladzimir Navumau or famous Mikhail Miasnikovich would be asked the same question. Not to mention the closer team of A.Lukashenka.

Independent media journalists have repeatedly asked these and some other high rank officials: what is the interest rate of your bank credit? And what do you think, did they get at least one clear reply? That’s a personal secret! And there is nothing to object - according to Belarusian laws, banks have the right not to make the crediting terms of specific clients public. And here we have such important figures! Nobody knows the interest or the sum of their credits; nor is the term of crediting known. There is only one thing certain: a range of the mansions constructed in the so called Tsarskoe Selo now costs not less than $ 500 000, while overseas merchants would pay a round million or even more for some mansions built with certain architectural research. By the way, the luxurious mansion of country’s chief ideologist, president’s assistant Aleg Pralaskouski can cost a lump sum of money.

No matter what people say, today it’s nice to govern or to stand close to governors. Workers of the Heat and Power Plant #4 who received private lots in 1992 still struggle against poor sewerage, roads, electricity, etc. And here, in Tsarskoe Selo, there are no problems at all: one signature - and you get the keys of a dream house! Those who were listed among the first owners must be now barbequing on green lawns. Water supply, gas, electricity - everything works perfectly. Neat streets, broad pavements, cute fences, bright street lights, clear demarcation strips, and U-turns. We cannot but wonder: how many millions - or to be more precise, how many hundreds of millions of dollars - did the community, constructed nearly in the city center and inhabited by Lukashenka’s panjandrums, cost to the state budget? These are mere mortals who will break legs in ruts nearby their houses, stumble against crushed street borders, and hop above pools-dumps. And here, in the so called Tsarskoe Selo, everything is sparkling, everything is pleasing.

Indeed, those who govern live in style.