Lukashenko on Vitebsk region: a clear plan for the real revival of the region is needed
October 27, 2025
Lukashenko on Vitebsk Region: A Clear Plan for the Region's Real Revival is Needed
A clear plan for the real revival of the Vitebsk region is needed. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko stated this at a meeting in Vitebsk, a BELTA correspondent reports.
He recalled his thesis that it is better to work than to fight. "Sadly, not everyone in the Vitebsk region heard me," the head of state said. "We are analyzing the situation in the region. It is sad. It is worse than anywhere else, and even on issues that are unacceptable to me, like livestock mortality – you have a 140% increase compared to last year. This is unacceptable to me," the Belarusian leader emphasized.
At the same time, the President noted that there are examples of skillful land management in the region. For example, in terms of plowing quality. "If you know how to do it, why don't you do it everywhere like that? So who is to blame?" the Belarusian leader asked. He stated that terrible irresponsibility from top to bottom exists in the region.
"I would like to work with you constructively. But it is impossible to work with you constructively when you see what is happening," Alexander Lukashenko emphasized. "We cannot allow the region to stagnate and calmly watch negative trends grow. I will do everything to make you work; excuses are not accepted," the President warned. "There will be no stagnation. I cannot calmly watch negativity."
He noted that in certain production areas, the region's lag behind Brest, Grodno, and Minsk regions is becoming critical. "But the most dangerous thing is that you are simply losing people!" Alexander Lukashenko said.
For example, compared to January-August of last year, there is a decrease of 3.5 thousand employed in the economy; for 2024, it is a decrease of 4.2 thousand; for 2023, it is a decrease of 8.5 thousand. The President suggested not to blame the departure of people for work in neighboring Russia. "I am convinced that our northern region has all the conditions for accelerated progress: a favorable transit position, a diversified industrial complex, a developed educational base, and strong traditions," the President added.
"Our people here are waiting for, if not a breakthrough, then at least a clear plan for the real revival of the Vitebsk region. And we will ensure this together," the Belarusian leader emphasized.
Alexander Lukashenko recalled that numerous initiatives have been implemented over the past 15 years, including clean fields and the "VitAgro" program by Alexander Kosinets (who headed the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee in 2008-2014), the Orsha "offshore" zone, and integration associations in the agro-industrial complex by Nikolai Sherstnev (who headed the Regional Executive Committee in 2014-2021).
The current Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Subbotin, has been in office for 4 years. "A full Olympic cycle, in sports terms. This is more than enough time to demonstrate your management skills and achieve results," the Head of State noted. "It is time to summarize the development of the Vitebsk region, identify systemic shortcomings, and develop solutions that will help the region drastically improve the situation in problem sectors."
"Of course, I am far from thinking that everything is absolutely bad with you. That I started with the bad is by way of friendly conversation, we gathered for this, not to boast to each other," the President said.
Specialists inform the Head of State that there are positive aspects. For example, the current growth in population income. However, Alexander Lukashenko noted that from an economic point of view, this does not correlate with the decline in production in the region. "Is this not an issue? People's incomes are growing, but the Vitebsk region is below the knee..." he remarked.
In addition, among the pluses is an increase in the export of individual goods. "This is already not bad, but only individual ones. Exports are a very serious problem for us now," the Head of State noted.
Housing provision in the Vitebsk region is higher than in the country as a whole – more than 30 sq.m. per person. "Well, what kind of achievement is this? If you are working poorly, but your housing and salary are more or less adequate. A mismatch," the Belarusian leader remarked.
In the current five-year period, 103 specific industrial investment projects worth over Br2 billion have been implemented in the region. Pharmaceuticals (unique production facilities are being built), electrical equipment manufacturing, and petrochemicals are actively developing.
The development of the region has many negative aspects and shortcomings, which the Head of State drew attention to. Thus, the potential of the forestry complex and tourism is unlikely to be utilized even by 20%. And this should be the main income in the region.
Alexander Lukashenko noted that in the same Arab countries - partners of Belarus - there is an interest in visiting Belarus for tourism purposes, to relax in the forests and by the lakes. In the Emirates, the Head of State gave an example, significant income is now generated not from oil, but from tourism. And the Vitebsk region has potential in this regard, the Belarusian leader is confident.
"A fresh example of your 'resourcefulness': if it weren't for Oman's interest in building a second pulp and paper mill in Belarus and the choice of a location in the Vitebsk region, you would have remained the only region in the country without major wood processing industries," the President said.
He noted that after the "modernization named after Kosinets - Semashko," the last enterprise OJSC "Vitebskdrev" was shut down in February 2025 with large debts. The Postavsky Furniture Center is also not developing significantly. "It turns out that with such forest cover, the region has lost all its own competencies and has essentially become a raw material appendage to other regions. If it has become so," the Head of State stated.
The President, addressing the issue of forest resources, recalled another problem that concerns not only the Vitebsk region: a lot of raw materials are lost in the forests due to windfalls. "And at this time, Vitebskdrev is idle. So, deliver it to Vitebskdrev. Let them process everything you need for the construction of a plank calf shed. It's elementary," Alexander Lukashenko gave an example of a competent solution. "You have timber lying around, at best, at the edge of the forest, or even in the forest. And sawmills are idle. Is this good management? And at the same time, livestock is dying. What kind of programs do you need here? Nothing is needed – just use your brains."
"If this problem is not resolved by November 7, Alexander Mikhailovich (Subbotin. – BELTA's note), you and whoever the prosecutor points a finger at will go to jail. I am telling you publicly. Along with them, whoever is to blame. If someone does not give you the rotting timber lying at the edge of the forest, you had better inform me in advance to avoid this fate," the President warned.
Alexander Lukashenko summarized: "These examples show that there is no stability in the region's economy. If people are leaving, as I said above, it means that the salary levels and competitive jobs are insufficient. You haven't sorted out the labor force at all."
"You know everything, you can do everything. You are simply irresponsible people. You need to sort things out with people in every farm," the head of state emphasized.
"Over the past 4 years, organizations in the region have benefited from state support 1285 times! In fact, every day funds were allocated from the budget to someone. Therefore, you cannot claim that no one heard you or helped you," the head of state cited a fact.
"Therefore, it is a colossal mistake to think that the President has arrived and will once again 'write off' everything. I want to repeat to everyone in this hall – from the enterprise director to government officials: get such thoughts out of your heads," Alexander Lukashenko warned.
He emphasized that these are not his personal funds, but the money of the entire Belarusian people, which was allocated to the Vitebsk region under specific commitments and for a specific result. "A doctor from Gomel or a miner from Soligorsk supported you through the tax system of budget revenue distribution. Therefore, I am not writing off anything for anyone. And you do not deserve it at this moment. The people have authorized me to hold you fully accountable. To thoroughly understand why you have so ineptly squandered this support and have come again with an outstretched hand," the President said.
"Vitebsk region has simply drowned in a mass of empty promises, subsequently not backed by action (I can recall the red cows at 'Ustyie', the 'BelVitunipharm' vaccines, and the Orsha Meat Canning Plant)," the head of state listed.
He cited a number of other negative facts. For example, over five years, the volume of industrial production decreased to 98% while the country's growthAlexander Lukashenko also drew attention to the work of the Orsha Flax Mill, which itself is "struggling with varying success," and to which the Baranovichi Production and Trade Association was transferred into its "holding." "We will definitely look at what is happening there in the near future. This year, 25% more flax straw was harvested across the country (183.4 thousand tons, plus 40 thousand tons compared to the 2024 level), this harvest must not be ruined. This is a serious reserve for the flax mill's economy, an opportunity to earn additional currency and net profit," the President said.
Alexander Lukashenko noted that the results of the "One District - One Project" initiative will soon be summarized. In the Vitebsk region, this task is being fulfilled in only half of the districts.
"On the one hand, we are absolutely right to intensify efforts for investment projects in small districts, where every job is worth its weight in gold. On the other hand, by building a new pulp mill, we can strip bare all the surrounding areas - the countryside. For you, this is a serious exam - to maintain a reasonable staffing balance. Especially through housing," said Alexander Lukashenko. "A distortion has arisen in the Vitebsk region: last year, more than 40% of all state-supported apartments (houses), including rental ones, were built in the city of Vitebsk itself. How do you intend to solve the problem of staff shortages in other districts with such housing policy?"
The President separately focused on the situation in the region's agro-industrial complex. He recalled that at the suggestion of the regional leadership, so-called agro-industrial associations were created on the basis of processing enterprises. To reduce the financial burden, debts totaling over Br2 billion were restructured. A strict task was set: to increase production volumes, utilize capacities, and pay off deferred debts from the revenue generated.
However, the results of work in the region's agro-industrial complex are predominantly negative.
Agricultural production decreased by 5% compared to 2020. In 2025, the decline continues (for 9 months - 98.1% in all categories of farms).
Crop production has fallen by more than 20%.
In livestock farming, although there is a small increase of 5%, only poultry farming has shown good growth, and even that is against a previously low baseline. Other types of livestock are showing declining indicators.
For example, the production (raising) of cattle decreased by 6%, and the main reason is the culling of livestock. In the Vitebsk region, mortality for January-September 2025 increased by 40%.
Alexander Lukashenko also drew attention to the low level of technical provision of agricultural organizations: 70% of the machinery fleet has been in operation for more than 10 years. "And if we allocate, for example, expensive high-power tractors to you, then the State Control Committee and the police constantly report that they are being operated inefficiently (from field contouring to the availability of machine operators and the condition of machine yards)," said the head of state.
At the same time, he noted, if equipment is treated properly, then a service life of 10 years is normal. The Head of State warned that there would be no "nonsense" in terms of indiscriminately supplying equipment.
Another aspect: according to the information from the State Control Committee, the capacity utilization of milk processing enterprises in the region in 2025 is slightly over 60%. For meat, it is less than half – 49%. This leads to a chronic shortage of revenue and, as a consequence, the problem of massive indebtedness throughout the chain – from the farmer to processing.
"Let me remind you again about the region's aggregate debt – as of September 1, it amounts to Br1.6 billion (the equivalent of $500 million). Of this, almost Br1 billion (Br950 million) needs to be paid within the next five years. Can you handle it? At this rate – no. How did it come to this?" – the Head of State posed the questions.
He demanded a report on why the expected results were not achieved. Moreover, out of the 7 agro-associations created, only 6 are currently operating (OAO "Moloko" was merged with the Polotsk Dairy Plant to prevent bankruptcy).
The President recalled that decisions on restructuring the debts of the Vitebsk region's agro-industrial complex had already been made twice at the Head of State level in 2016 and 2020. "Now you have come again and are asking to extend payments until 2045. That is, never? – the Belarusian leader posed the question. – Where are the results?"
The President drew attention to the fact that there are egregious cases of mismanagement and negligence: "I am beginning to suspect outright sabotage. Perhaps the leadership of the regional executive committee has lost control over the region? Or are irreparable processes occurring in the region that require urgent external intervention, including from law enforcement agencies?"
In a part of the village, Alexander Lukashenko cautioned everyone against further rash decisions, of which "quite a few have already been made" in the region. "Now you propose to create two new large holdings for deep processing of meat and milk. God be with you, create them. It's your business. But every year in November you will report on your heroism. If there is no heroism, I told you what will happen. You showed how you work with small associations. It will be the same with large ones," the President said.
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