28 March 2024, Thursday, 12:44
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Minsk Resident: It's Time To Change Situation

Minsk Resident: It's Time To Change Situation
ARCHIVAL PHOTO KP.BY

Lukashenka is in the worst situation ever.

55-year-old activist of the European Belarus civil campaign Aleh Marjenka from Minsk has explained why so many Belarusians have to work on several jobs, spoken about his attitude to "free medicine" and official statistics, the press service of the civil campaign writes.

- What are the main socio-economic problems that concern you and your family today?

- They are the same as for the majority of Belarusians. In our country, people survive paycheck to paycheck. For example, I work at two jobs - a security guard in the office and a watchman. At that, I can't properly support my family, because my salary is about Br800. I don't mind two jobs, but I don't consider such low wages normal.

Salaries and pensions in Belarus are far from European ones, in contrast to the prices in shops, and utility bills. The amount of money paid to most people is not even human, it's the lowest of the low. I am not talking about how pensioners survive. The state mocks at people with its contribution, calling it "salaries" and "pensions".

I wouldn't believe in life what the Belstat reports about the average salary. The bulk of the inhabitants in large cities have a salary of 500 to 800 rubles, in district centers - it's a terrible situation at all. And we all know how beautifully Belstat can take mythical figures from the air.

- You have also mentioned the communal bills. Do the tariffs correspond to their quality?

- No, of course they don't. The situation could have been improved by greater transparency. It is not clear where not only the communal patments, but also the road charges, payments for repairs, etc., go. Transparency is necessary in order to be able to control where our funds go, what exactly for and how much we pay. It exists in the entire civilized world, but not here. Obviously, if the real cost of public services is hidden from the people, we can talk about stealing money in this situation.

In general, I think that this sphere could be improved in everything, but it requires specificity and accountability. And this is not the case in Belarus today. Accordingly, we cannot talk about any reforms of the housing and utilities sector under the current government.

An incredible price is being added to the tariffs, and the people are literally suffering from it. Of course, there are 10% of the population, various officials - they do not suffer, but an average person, who pays the monthly fee for the communal service, it's a burden.

- How can we counteract this?

- I have only one opinion which I have always voiced: to change the authorities - through elections, protests, through the Square. Belarus is not and will not be a country for life under this power. It's time to improve what's going on. I joined the opposition back in 1996, and I see that now it is the worst situation for Lukashenka and the best for those who want changes - for the majority of Belarusians.

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