Lukashenka Accused the Head of EPAM of Financing Protests in Belarus

The businessman answered the usurper.

At a press conference the day before, Aliaksandr Lukashenka touched upon the money received by IT specialists in Belarus and accused EPAM of financing the protests.

“We will not hinder the personal initiative of people. Even though I have a tough attitude towards these individual entrepreneurs, IT specialists.

We will not squeeze IT specialists, we will not interfere with their work. But we must see all financial flows. We initially agreed on this. Here is a bottleneck, money has come here, and you get paid for your work.

And not that from there some EPAM and others, the scoundrel Dobkin or Drobkin, whatever his surname, which has already been established, transferred money here for protest actions. And there he is connected with the special services.

They gave the money, transferred it, and then they divided it up. This is not normal.

Make a product, get money, but it should be here. This is the main thing. Get your benefits, and we will see where you spend your money," Lukashenka quotes dev.by.

Arkadz Dobkin: We were not going to leave Belarus

Arkadz Dobkin made an official comment.

- The comment that sounded, of course, cannot be called pleasant or long-awaited for me or the company. And, in our opinion, it makes sense to just briefly comment on the current situation and outline the position of EPAM in general.

We have been doing business in Belarus and other countries of the world for over 25 years, and we take it extremely responsibly, with the full understanding of all associated global and local risks. Responsibly, first of all, to our employees, clients, investors, and the country too, of course.

What does it mean?

This means that our responsibility to employees, customers, and investors has never allowed us to take rash and improper steps that could lead to risks of disruption to the company's production activities, or, more simply, to the loss of reputation.

These principles guide all EPAM management globally, in Belarus and elsewhere. In addition, all financial transactions of EPAM as a global public company, as well as personal financial transactions of its key executive heads, which may directly or indirectly affect the company's operations, are strictly regulated by the Board of Directors and undergo numerous international audits, which leaves no room for incorrect interpretation, assumptions, or comments.

It also means, and this is extremely important, that we were not going to leave Belarus. And, as long as there are young people who are ready to study, as long as there are talents who are ready to live and work in the country, and as long as there are clients who appreciate this talent and are ready to work with EPAM Belarus - we plan to continue working and developing the company here. Until we are forced to leave the country...

EPAM is now one of the world's IT elite.

We live and work in nearly 40 countries around the world and grow by almost 40% per year.

In the last three months alone, EPAM has grown by more than 4 thousand people globally.

In 2021, we will grow to more than 10 thousand talented engineers, designers, and consultants around the world.

Belarus was one of the reasons why we managed to do all this, almost impossible.

And we hope it will be part of EPAM for years to come.

By the way, according to the results of the latest trading on the New York Stock Exchange, EPAM shares have surpassed a new level. According to tradingview.com, the share price rose to $ 608 (a new all-time record).

Since the beginning of August, EPAM shares have risen in price by almost $ 50, and, since the beginning of the year, by almost 70%, or by $ 250.

For reference.

Arkadz Dobkin left the Institute of Powder Metallurgy in 1987 and founded a software cooperative. He emigrated to the United States in 1991 and founded EPAM Systems in 1993. In 2006, EPAM received an investment from the American company Siguler Guff & Company.

In 2012, Arkadz Dobkin and his partners brought EPAM Systems to the New York Stock Exchange. In addition, Dobkin was at the forefront of the creation of the HTP, his company is one of the largest employers in the IT industries of Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia.

He was one of the first in the rating of the most successful and influential businessmen by Ezhednevnik.