Deforestation for Summer Cottages of Lukashenka's Guards Occurs near Minsk

Young forest plantations are cut down because of whims of "oprichniks".

A Minsk resident addressed the editorial office of Charter97.org and told about a blatant violation of all legislative norms when cutting down a young forest. As it turned out, 5 hectares of forest plantations are cut down for needs of Vector-2012 gardeners' partnership (members are employees of the Prosecutor Office and Lukashenka's security service) near Hancharouka, Smalevichi district, Minsk region. Decisions are recorded in Decree No. 667 from 27.12.2007 "On the seizure and allocation of land". The decision can only be made by Lukashenka.

The Minsk resident explains why personal well-being of dictator's servants prevails over interests of ordinary Belarusians:

- Two years ago you soft-wood forest was cut down near Smalevichy. My neighbours and me expected to see a beautiful forest near our summer cottages. We thought we would pick mushrooms and berries there. But deforestation occurred.

Later we found out that it was done for the needs of the Vector-2012 gardeners' partnership, employees of the Prosecutor Office and Lukashenka's guards are its members.

How is this possible? There is a strict prohibition on deforestation for needs of gardeners' partnerships. Such actions can be carried out only after Lukashenka's permission. I wonder either he knew about it, or it was done without his permission. Most likely, this area of the young forest was "recorded" as brushwood and quietly cut down. After all, this requires only a decision of the regional executive committee. And there are good seven-year pines and firs. It needed some more time and we would have enjoyed a green forest.

I met bureaucrats and they told that nobody would allow them to cut the forest. But Vector-2012 got that permission.

A lot of documents are collected; they clearly indicate the essence of the case.

Why do I do this? Because I am sensible of responsibility for my country. I belong to the fifth generation of Minsk residents, but I am fond of picking mushrooms. And now I witness an open disgrace. Yesterday I visited one area, it's empty, there are no works there.

No document mentions the forest there.

I am ready to continue active participation in this case. This is my civil position. I do not want to feel serf, because our homeland is beautiful, but the country these oprichniks do what they want her.