Authorities Absolutely Not Care About Villagers

They are forced to pay more for products than city dwellers.

The state-run Belarusian Republican Union of Consumer Societies and related district consumers societies unite about 5 thousand shops across the country. It is the largest trade network in Belarus and a monopolist in rural areas. At the same time, the shops of the Belarusian Republican Union of Consumer Societies charge higher prices than their private competitors, while the level of service is lower.

Instead of solving the problem and creating conditions for the private sector to come to the village, Aliaksandr Lukashenka keeps postponing the issue. And recently he gave a new promise about Belarusian Republican Union of Consumer Societies.

UDF tells how Lukashenka has been mocking the villagers for two decades, promising reforms in Belarusian Republican Union of Consumer Societies.

2005: "In two years you have to raise this sphere".

In 2005 Lukashenka made a decision to grant Belarusian Republican Union of Consumer Societies a loan of Br 30bn for two years: "The state will lend the money, but during these two years you must raise this sphere".

In 2007 this was no longer mentioned. THe Belarusian Republican Union of Consumer Societies promised to modernise itself, while Lukashenka demanded to contribute more actively to the development of roadside service in the country and added that 2008 would be a control year for consumer cooperative organisations.

2013: "You have got used to greenhouse conditions".

Lukashenka reminded the representative of Belarusian Republican Union of Consumer Societies that the state supported the construction of shops in major cities and Minsk, which gave the opportunity to compete with other retail chains.

And then stated the sad situation in the work of the Belarusian Republican Union of Consumer Societies:

"The main reason is not in their unprofitability and lack of personnel, but in the lack of modern technological solutions, business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit. And simply unwillingness. They are accustomed to hothouse conditions. Like before, you hope for exclusive help from the state. The state will help you maintain your monopoly position in the agricultural market.

2014: "Peasants produce products, but in the village they have to buy them at prices higher than in the city"

Throughout 2014, Lukashenka returned several times to the issue of the unprofitable work of the Belarusian Republican Union of Consumer Societies. In January, he stated:

"So far in the production sphere of the Belarusian Republican Union of Consumer Societies there is technical, technological backwardness, and at some enterprises - dormancy, non-competitiveness of manufactured products. As a result, stockpiles are growing. Often something that nobody needs is produced. And this is already a crime.

Lukashenka was indignant:

"It is unacceptable to cede the leadership to private companies, and moreover when having various preferences of the state, when there is maximum accessibility and high mobility in rural areas."

A few months later Lukashenka said:

"We have entrepreneurs who are ready to take entire regions and rural trade, to reach every peasant so that he is served as it should be. The Union of Consumer Societies actively opposes this. But we have given time to the consumer co-operative society to learn to serve the Belarusian peasants normally, so that the prices would not be exorbitant. Otherwise, it turns out that the peasants produce food, but in the village they have to buy it at higher prices than in the city.

Later it will turn out that the Belarusian Republican Union of Consumer Societies hasn't learnt to serve customers decently, but it won't have any consequences for it.

It is interesting that in the same year the chairman of Belarusian Republican Union of Consumer Societies, Siarhei Sidko, was arrested for corruption - later he will be sentenced to 12 years.

2021: "Criticism for disregard for people is often objective"

Again Lukashenka stated the sad situation in trade in the countryside, and again refused to address the problem:

"Moral and physical deterioration of many trade facilities, suboptimal use of space, poor introduction of new technologies. Sure, there are some good examples. But has it become a system? That's the question... And the criticism of Belarusian Republican Union of Consumer Societies in the media for sluggishness, disregard for people is often objective".

2023: "If they can work, let them work. If not, we'll liquidate them"

On November 17, Lukashenka again recalled the Belarusian Republican Union of Consumer Societies:

"We helped everyone: I allocated loans for the purchase of equipment and so on and so forth. But I see that it's necessary to introduce strict military discipline there, as it was done in Brest and Hrodna. Early next year, we'll gather the Belarusian Republican Union of Consumer Societies (there will be a new head there, the old one was fired) - the toughest tasks will be set. He added: "In the near future we'll take the Belarusian Republican Union of Consumer Societies, and we'll take it very seriously. If they can work, let them work. If they don't do it, they'll have to do it," he said.

He added:

"In the near future we'll be dealing with the Belarusian Republican Union of Consumer Societies, and we'll be doing it very seriously. If they can work, let them work. If they can work, let them work. If they can't, we'll liquidate them and decide with each shop, where they'll work and how they'll sell.

Given Lukashenka's previous statements, the obvious conclusion is that despite all the politician's threats against the Belarusian Republican Union of Consumer Societies, the humiliation of villagers will continue: they will continue to pay more for food than the city dwellers.