Take you bag and go home!

Only a new free election can lead Belarus out of the deadlock.

Nothing personal, but the government should resign. It would be even better if the main architect of the Belarusian “economic miracle”, which turned out to be an economic deadlock, resigned, too. Some members of the Council of Ministers should receive summonses to the Prosecutor General's Office.

You may ask why.

Firstly, for discrediting the national currency: the exchange rate was Br2,650 per dollar at the beginning of 2009. Today's exchange rate is Br18,000/$1. The almost sevenfold devaluation of the national currency for almost seven years is a financial catastrophe. Should I explain to anyone (except for top officials) that real sovereignty and national security are impossible without the strong currency?

Secondly, for inflicting damage on an especially large scale (by means of inflation) to the population, economic entities, commercial organisations and investors. Belarus is the world's leader in annual inflation in 1997-2015. This leadership makes both top officials and ordinary citizens blush for the lack of professionalism (for the former ones) and for tolerating non-professionals (for the latter ones).

Thirdly, for de-industrialisation and jobs reduction. About 1300 industrial enterprises are bankrupts or close to bankruptcy. About one million of Belarusians of working age cannot find a job. In addition, more than 500,000 jobs may be liquidated.

More than 50,000 sole proprietors will have to stop working due to the economic policy of the government. Taking into account scandalous ruling No. 666, the number will appear to be much higher.

Fourthly, for failures in the state investment policy. The government gave about 100 billion dollars (the money of tax payers) to the wood-processing industry, the flax industry, agriculture, the construction sector and the energy sector for the last 10 years. What is the result? We have a recession, exports fell drastically, energy intensity is two- or threefold higher than in the EU, workforce productivity is three- or fivefold lower than in the US, Germany or Canada.

Fifthly, for extremely low quality of state assets and resources management. The ruling clan manages public wealth worth more than 150 billion dollars. Revenues to the budget from assets and resources management make less than 1% of total budget revenues. The amount of “frozen” capital in warehouses, unsold goods, non-recoverable debts, ruining buildings, rusty machines and equipment exceeds 15 billion dollars. This is not just an act of sabotage. Such actions are aimed at destructing the foundation of the national security.

Sixthly, for the debts that bound Belarusians hand and foot. The total foreign debt already exceeded 40 billion dollars. This is huge money for Belarus! Each of us owes more than 4,000 dollars. The saddest thing is that the country accumulates the loans that were taken not for development, modernisation, but for paying paying off the old ones.

The current system is a deadlock! No ideas, no competition, no motivation, no movement, no development. Responsibility for it lies fully with Lukashenka and his government. Belarus needs a new economic course – the programme “Million Jobs” and a new responsible professional team. But one condition is needed – a free honest election.

Anatol Liabedzka, Belorusskie Novosti