Lukashenko is preparing a New Experiment on Belarusians
What does "de-urbanization" mean according to Lukashenko? And how is his regime similar to the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia?
The Belarusian authorities have come up with yet another "brilliant" plan — this time, they have decided to de-urbanizethe country. In simple terms, this means moving people from cities to villages. According to Lukashenko’s so-called Minister of Architecture and Construction, Ruslan Parkhamovich, the concept of de-urbanization is already in its final stages of development. The regime claims that Belarus needs to be de-urbanized to reduce the outflow of labor to big cities and encourage people to return to villages and small towns.
But in reality, behind these words about de-urbanization lies nothing more than Lukashenko’s attempt to turn the entire country into one giant collective farm, which is how he envisions his ideal Belarus.
His so-called Minister of Architecture and Construction, Ruslan Parkhamovich, seriously claims that de-urbanization will create "comfortable living conditions" in small towns and villages. But what exactly does this mean?
Moving people from cities to villages (but how exactly?).
Revitalizing rural areas (but with what resources?).
Renovating old houses (but with what funding?).
So far, the authorities haven’t officially presented the de-urbanization concept. Should we worry? Yes, we should.
We are not living in the Middle Ages. The whole world is moving toward urbanization, not the other way around, because cities are the centers of growth, innovation, and progress. In cities, people have better living conditions, better access to education, healthcare, jobs, technology, and culture. The success of countries like the USA, Germany, South Korea, and many others is largely built on the development of cities.
Why? Because economies grow in cities.
Cities concentrate enterprises, industries, startups, and financial centers.
Small and medium-sized businesses thrive in cities because they have more customers and a higher-income population.
Cities offer career growth because there are actual opportunities for it.
Villages do not provide the same opportunities—not because rural life is inherently bad, but because progress is moving in a different direction, and fighting against it is simply irrational.
Modern cities are hubs of science, technology, and innovation.
Universities, research centers, and IT companies are all based in cities.
The best hospitals, clinics, and highly qualified doctors are found in cities.
The service sector in cities is significantly better than in rural areas.
Even in Belarusian cities — despite mass repression and the exodus of professionals — the level of services, medicine, and opportunities is still higher than in rural areas.
One could go on, but any rational person understands that de-urbanization is a step backward, both for the country’s development and for its people. And when dictatorships start talking about de-urbanization, what they really mean is:
More control over society by isolating more people from quality education, technology, and career prospects.
Cutting people off from social connections and access to information by limiting modern communication.
Keeping citizens fully dependent on the regime by restricting their exposure to the outside world.
This is exactly what Lukashenko is offering Belarusians.
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