{"id":207601,"date":"2026-10-15T17:44:32","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T14:44:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/207601\/"},"modified":"2026-10-15T17:44:34","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T14:44:34","slug":"lukasenka-offers-farmlands-subsidies-to-eu-blacklisted-belarusian-businessman","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/207601\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0141uka\u0161enka offers farmlands, subsidies to EU-blacklisted Belarusian businessman"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\n \"\"\n
\n \n
\n (Belarusian leader's press office)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

October 15, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka sounded alarm on Thursday over the poor state of the Viciebsk region and offered farmlands and financial assistance to EU-blacklisted Mikalaj Varabiej to turn it around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While visiting the Vierchniad\u017avinsk district and inspecting \u010cyrvony Bor Ahra, an animal farming company owned by Varabiej, \u0141uka\u0161enka acknowledged that handing state assets over to private owners is a last resort, but argued that it would be justified in this particular case, according to the Belarusian ruler\u2019s press office. He warned that the northern part of the Viciebsk region would \u201cperish without the toughest discipline.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka said that he had carefully studied the map of the Vierchniad\u017avinsk district and identified the land that should be transferred into private ownership. \u201cMikalaj, if you want support, I\u2019ve marked at home what you should take,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m ready to hand it over to you. Something needs to be changed here drastically. This complex needs [animal] feed. These lands should supply you with feed. Give me a plan by the spring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka added that Varabiej\u2019s company would receive the government\u2019s subsidies on equal terms with all other beneficiaries. \u201cThere\u2019s no big money,\u201d he said. \u201cWe will subsidize you like everybody else.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The European Union imposed a travel ban and an asset freeze on Mikalaj Varabiej, often described as \u201c\u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s wallet,\u201d following the violent suppression of peaceful post-election protests in Belarus in 2020 and a subsequent crackdown on the regime\u2019s opponents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2023, Varabiej and his business partner Alaksandar Zajca\u016d sought the removal of sanctions against their core asset, Bremino Group, through the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, but the court rejected their suit, arguing that Bremino Group co-manages the Bremino-Or\u0161a Special Economic Zone, which had been established by Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka and enjoys state support along with financial, tax and other privileges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The court described Varabiej as a leading Belarusian businessman with interests in petroleum, coal transit, banking and other sectors, who benefits from close ties to \u0141uka\u0161enka and his family. Bremino Group \u201cenjoys tax breaks and other forms of support from the Belarusian administration\u201d and is \u201cbenefitting from and supporting\u201d \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s regime, the ruling said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Varabiej has also been linked to a company that supplied Russia with a solvent used for the production of chemical weapons and accused of owning elite real estate in Austria in violation of sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n \"\"