Łukašenka rails against facilitation of asset sales for foreigners
January 18, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka has urged officials to take immediate measures to stem a capital outflow from Belarus at today’s meeting with the Council of Ministers.
The Belarusian ruler was critical of the government’s proposals to facilitate property sales by foreigners from so-called “unfriendly” countries, citing reports of deliberate withdrawal of income from Belarus.
“Why do such precedents arise? In practice, restrictive measures should be taken without any hesitation. How do governors organize this work?” his press office quoted him as saying. “You [should be] primarily interested in investment and deficit-free budget.”
The conference came days after the government allowed owners from “unfriendly” countries to sell their Belarus-based assets with permission from the State Property Committee.
The regulation applies to companies in which foreigners from “unfriendly” countries hold a stake of 25 percent or more.
In November 2022, Łukašenka threatened to nationalize foreign-owned companies should they decide to leave Belarus over its complicity in the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Earlier that year, the government compiled a list of Belarusian companies with owners from “unfriendly” countries, prohibiting them from selling their shares.
The original list included 190 entries and was reviewed several times later.
The ban targets foreign shareholders from countries that imposed sanctions on Belarusian individuals or entities, including Austria, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Italy, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.
- Security
- PoliticsMoscow not happy with Belarus’ nationalist history narrativesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPoland rejects extradition request from BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityVietnam ignored torture convention when extraditing VieramiejčykThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Security
- PoliticsBelarus’, India’s law enforcers discuss cooperationThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyHouseholds’ disposable income up 19 percent from 2023 – BiełstatThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics
- PoliticsBelarus’ top diplomat sounds alarm over NATO activities at CSTO summitThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Security
- PoliticsOpposition leader hails approval of EU commissionersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus keeps leading former Soviet republics in currency depreciation since 1991The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: Hrodna-based news site owner jailed againThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPolish parliamentary group For Free Belarus elects new chairmanThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarusian deputy foreign minister meets with Israeli chargé d'affairesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Elections, PoliticsŁukašenka's officials worried about social tensionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyPolish senator to consider Belarusian student issueThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsFormer volunteer fighter declared political prisonerThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityUkraine reports Russian drone incursions into BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka meets with Sharif family in PakistanThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition group pushes for more sanctions against Minsk in BrusselsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsG7 foreign ministers condemn Minsk for supporting Russia's war on UkraineThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyHIV incidence in Belarus drops 14 percent year on year – doctorThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyCadets from Russia-held Ukraine's breakaway region visit HrodnaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja praises Canada’s potash sanctions against MinskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Elections, PoliticsElection official, Russian journalist lecture military propaganda officers on election threatsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsReprisals: another high treason trial opens in BrestThe material is available only to POZIRK+