Pavel Latushka: Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus, Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management, Ambassador
Under the rule of the dictator, our country has consistently endured and continues to suffer losses across various sectors and industries, including those crucial for the well-being of the population.
For instance, in 1990, Belarus had a total of 874 functioning hospitals. However, by the end of 2022, that number had dwindled to a mere 585 hospitals, representing a decrease of 33%. Astonishingly, Lukashenko abolished a staggering 289 hospitals. But his actions didn't stop there—another 27 hospitals were closed in 2023 alone. In total, 316 hospitals have been shut down.
Moreover, every year, towns cease to exist within our country. In 2023 alone, 12 towns disappeared. The numbers for previous years are equally alarming: 45 settlements vanished in 2022, 21 in 2021, and 15 in 2020. Over the span of four years, Belarus has witnessed a reduction of 93 settlements.
However, during Lukashenko's usurped reign, there's been one area where he has made significant progress. And it's worth noting that this progress is quite substantial.
Belarus' external debt stood at $2 billion in 1994. However, as of January 1, 2024, the debt has skyrocketed to a staggering $36.88 billion, marking an increase of over 18 times. Undoubtedly, this scale is incredibly impressive.
This prompts a reasonable question: over the course of 30 years, as Lukashenko increased the external debt by 18 times, what exactly has been accomplished? Have more businesses been established? Has the number of hospitals increased? Has a nuclear power plant, built through debt, managed to reduce the cost of electricity for the population? We all know the answers to these questions.
All of this has been done so that Lukashenko and his family can establish and own numerous companies in different countries, construct lavish residences, siphon off substantial financial resources from the country, and acquire real estate abroad.
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