Vladimir Solovyov: Belarus under threat of a monetary collapse

The situation with currency in Belarus looks really bad, Russian famous TV journalist Vladimir Solovyov writes on his blog on mail.ru.

Of course, it’s possible to put a brave face on all troubles, but this in fact means that the Belarusian authorities have failed to manage the economic problems. A decision by the government to legalize the shadow exchange rate of the Belarusian rubles means that they have begun to change approaches. When changing economic approaches, it is a deep delusion to think that you can cure a disease by just disguising a pimple.

I think we are watching the beginning of great economic changes in Belarus. It is called a collapse in other words. If Russia did not make strenuous efforts, the situation in Belarus would become really bad. Taking into account the strange police, nervous and anti-Russian, conducted by Alyaksandr Lukashenka, one can hardly count that Russia would like to save Batska (Lukashenka) with all its strength. Lukashenka seems to suppose that the problem will disappear if he hushes it up. Unfortunately, it is not so.

Russia will not face this problem. We have an odd, by far more reliable economy. We at least have overcome the crisis and did it rather well, judging by economic indicators. This is not influence feelings of people, but it is another matter. People are not happy. They look not at general economic indicators, but in their pocket in particular. At a gap between the rich and the poor. Meanwhile, our rich people cannot behave properly and abuse peoples’ patience teasing them by demonstrating their wealth. It is not wise. Though, it is pleasant that the number of Russian billionaires has increased again. Anyway, it’s not quite clear who finds it pleasant, perhaps their family members.