The Hard Truth About Lukashenko Has Surfaced

Why did Lukashenko really come down criticizing scientists?

On Friday, November 21, the governor spent three and a half hours broadcasting about the work of scientists, occasionally snapping at them. The subtext can be explained quite briefly and simply.

"I want to ask you about the status of a scientist. Do you want me to raise your status? You think, as I do, about it. I've been thinking for a week about how I can raise your status. No one but the scientist himself can raise the status. It should be done by you," Lukashenko said playfully indignant at the meeting on the development of the scientific sphere.

He returned to this idea several times, criticizing scientists and saying that the "time of concrete actions" had come. But in fact, with his verbal attacks, the ruler was only trying to turn the tables.

What was the meaning of the proposal of the former head of the National Academy of Sciences Mikhail Myasnikovich about the need to "raise the status of the scientist"? We won't be wrong if we say: that the work of representatives of science in Belarus is paid so low that it threatens the future collapse of the whole sphere - in its former form.

In a recent interview with dev.by, a scientist who has been working at the NAS for ten years said: "The salary of a cleaner is more than that of a candidate of science".

The country's leadership is also well aware of the poor life of young scientists. In December 2024, the head of the State Audit Office Vasily Gerasimov publicly reported to Lukashenko: the number of students in postgraduate and doctoral studies in the country has fallen by 10% in three years:

"There is no material interest to work in the field after graduation. For example, a postgraduate student's stipend is 1000 rubles, and he can earn 0.5 rate as a junior researcher. After graduation, one should move to a full-time position, where the salary is Br800-900," described the harsh reality of Gerasimov.

That is, people either run away from Belarusian science or simply don't go there. In relation to GDP, all our neighbors except for the warring Ukraine spend more on science than Belarus (we had 0.58% in 2023). But instead of solving the problem, Lukashenko is engaged in manipulations, transferring arrows.

Why the ruler dislikes scientists, one can understand from his statement at the same meeting: because during the mass protests in 2020 the law enforcers clearly chose his side, not the people's. But the representatives of science did not.

That is why Lukashenko does not care about Belarusian science, to put it bluntly - at least, about the fundamental science, which is not able to bring him immediate benefit. At the meeting, in particular, he irritatedly noted: "Why are you all crying that there are not enough young people?"

The ruler also spoke about the reason for his indignation with some "young scientists," whom he appointed rectors.

First he said: "They are impudent, greedy - there's no other way to say it. It came to the point that the rector appoints a meeting - people are not more stupid than him.... He can be two hours late. Or even not come at all.

But of course, this is not the point. Here's the point: "And the statements. Well, pardon me, they listened (it is not excluded that a wiretap was installed - S.), looked. "What science do we have? Yes, we have no science, no education, no health care, no pedagogical. Yes, this is nonsense. Here in the West." And I read all this and thought: "You're a bastard. Where did you get your education?"

That is, in fact, Lukashenko is extremely dissatisfied with the young rectors not because of their allegedly inappropriate behavior, but because of their views. The statement made the day before by the ruler that the young rectors allegedly started to pursue "anti-state policy" looks not accidental in this connection.

A confirmation of the true subtext of Lukashenko's words is the relaxed look of BSU rector Andrei Korol at the meeting.

Last year, Cyberpartisans were able to access the phone number of the rector of the country's main university and learned that he supports political purges at the university, for which he begs the authorities for a three-room apartment at a reduced price. And the doctor of pedagogical sciences surrounded himself with mistresses.

Lukashenko has not yet spoken directly, masking the subtext of his statements, but the essence of them has long been clear: to make a career in the system, one should think not about the achievements of science and the quality of education, but engage in immoral deeds for the benefit of the regime.

Mark Dzyuba, "Salidarnasts".

You can support the website Charter97.org

MULTI-CURRENCY ACCOUNT FOR ASSISTANCE:

Bank's name: Bank Millennium S.A.
Address: ul. Stanislawa Zaryna, 2A, 02-593, Warszawa
IBAN: PL97116022020000000216711123
SWIFT: BIGBPLPW
Name of the account holder: Fundacja “KARTA ‘97”
Purpose/title of payment: Donation for statuary aims

You can contact us by the e-mail charter97@gmail.com