Top official denies goods shortages, says Belarusians well off

November 23, BPN. Online reports about empty store shelves are primarily directed against authorities, Natalla Kačanava, chair of the upper chamber of the Belarusian National Assembly, told journalists from the state-run media outlets.

The statement came in response to pictures of empty shelves and social media posts about a narrower range of some goods available at stores. It follows Alaksandr Łukašenka’s directive to freeze consumer prices in a bid to curb galloping inflation.

Belarus has no problems today; the harvest was a success; there is enough food; and the quality of Belarusian goods is great, Kačanava, Łukašenka’s close associate, noted.

“The efforts by dishonest people to create fake news look absolutely worthless,” the National Assembly’s press office cited Kačanava as saying. “People see and understand how well the Belarusians live, even judging by foreigners who come here.”

Kačanava mentioned her recent trips across Belarus and meetings with ordinary people who allegedly told her that Belarus is a popular shopping destination for its western neighbors who enjoy visa waiver. “Let people come here and buy Belarusian goods of good quality,” she said.

The Belarusian economy contracted by 4.7 percent year on year in the first 10 months of 2022.