Belarus’ authorities will not settle scores with businessmen – Lukashenko

<p> MINSK, Aug 19 - PrimePress. Belarus’ authorities will not settle scores with businessmen. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko made a statement to this effect during a meeting with Minister for Taxes and Duties Sergey Nalivaiko and Chairman of the State Control Committee Vasily Gerasimov on August 19, the president’s press service informed. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Lukashenko said: “I would like businessmen to hear me say that nobody is going to settle scores with them. Someone made mistakes. Some went astray. Some misunderstood some things. It is necessary to make things clear for them. I am even ready to do it at my own level if you find an appropriate form. But we should welcome those, who honestly worked in Belarus, and those, who would like to start working here, as our people, who create value for the nation and the state. Overreactions are out of the question. I don’t see any overreactions and I want none in the future.” </p> <p>   </p> <p> “We have recently increased our focus on tax administration, tax compliance. I want you to go hard on tax evaders without hurting law-abiding businesses. Once I promised them that all our agreements will be honoured in line with the law,” said Lukashenko. </p> <p>   </p> <p> “Not a single hair should fall from an entrepreneur who respects the law. We should support bona fide businesses. These are people who work for the state and serve its interests. There is only one thing: taxes must be paid, employees must be treated well,” Lukashenko said. </p> <p>   </p> <p> At the same time, Lukashenko warned businessmen against trying to cover up machinations and violations of the law by going into politics. “I would like to raise the issue today. Judging by last year’s lessons we’ve recently seen who is who and have started harshly demanding the payment of taxes and the normal behaviour of simple businessmen. I don’t mean that a businessperson has no rights and has no right to an opinion of their own. Absolutely not. But I've always emphasized and I think smart businessmen heard me that politics and business are different things.” </p> <p>   </p> <p> Lukashenko remarked that the law cannot accommodate every eventuality and there are different laws both in politics and business. “Any businessman, who wants to pursue politics, should rigorously observe the law. Politicians and businessmen should observe laws. But if someone steals things as it often happens (and we know examples) and then goes into politics to cover it all up and blame the government if something happens by claiming he is an honest businessman and faces accusations only because of his political career… Some current prisoners behaved like that. Such things will be definitely stopped. And you shouldn't take offense with the authorities,” said Lukashenko. </p> <p>   </p> <p> As previously reported, Lukashenko has repeatedly accused the former chairman of Belgazprombank, Viktor Babariko, of starting a campaign for Belarus’ presidency in order to avoid responsibility for economic crimes. On 6 July, the Supreme Court of Belarus sentenced Babariko to 14 years of imprisonment in a reinforced regime colony with deprivation of the right to hold managerial positions for a period of five years. </p> <p>   </p> <p> During a meeting with senior local governments officials to discuss topical social and political issues on July 30, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko presented his account of the reasons behind recent arrests of certain prominent businessmen. In his words, they implemented illegal enrichment and tax evasion schemes and used the money saved to stage riots. Lukashenko stated that with reference to Beltyazhmash (real estate leasing), TUT BY MEDIA (ITC, mass media), Modum Our Cosmetics (Belarus’ largest cosmetics manufacturer), 21vek (the country’s largest internet retailer), the Yurkevich spouses (Yurkas and Door Leader companies), the software company PandaDoc. End </p> <p>   </p>

2021-08-20

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