Expensive "Rides" of the Lukashenkas

The sound of engines roaring this weekend in Minsk died down, but the echo of biker parade is heard so far.

And it happened because Lukashenka and his sons took part in it.

"Our economic state is poor and there are many things to invest money in,"

"Money spent on the event could be directed to other city needs," Minsk dwellers say.

Free Cheese - The Ruler Only

There will be no official report on costs. Journalist Svyatlana Kalinkina tried to find out at least an approximate cost of dictator's "rides".

According to her, it was spent more than $26 thousand on 5 working hours of law enforcement agencies.

"If the budget cannot stand thousands police officers, then they should be fired. There should be 5-10 thousand of them. Especially when you are "elected by popular vote", what are you afraid of then?" Svyatlana Kalinkina points out.

To say nothing of expenditures for animators, doctors, firefighters and others. And the budget covers all the costs. If an event is organized by the opposition, organizers have to pay.

"Voiced sums differ. The police could cost Br2000. It depends on duration of the event and its route," Yury Hubarevich, deputy chairman of the For Freedom movement, says.

The opposition pays on its own, the government using purses of citizens. At the same time, wages of citizens are being cut, unlike expenses of Lukashenka.

"The wage should somehow correlate with his work done. If wages of ordinary people drop in several times, the same should happen to the Lukashenka's," Svyatlana Kalinkina believes.

In the meantime, blogger Viktar Malisheuski says, spendings on cultural activities are being reduced.

$585 is the amount the Ministry of Culture can spend on cultural activities for children.

Apparently, because Lukashenka and his sons do not take part in them.