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Lukashenka orders Minsk authorities to keep prices at bay during New Year’s celebration period

Authorities should take measures to curb the growth of prices in Minsk during the New Year’s celebration period, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said on Monday while meeting with Andrey Shorats, head of the Minsk City Executive Committee.

“We’re on the eve of people’s favorite holidays, New Year and Christmas,” Mr. Lukashenka said, according to BelTA. “People want to celebrate them properly. You understand full well that Minsk is wealthier than other parts of Belarus, but it has different people, rich, average and poor. One should not forget that New Year is, above all, about a table, a banquet, and people deserve normal prices in stores after living and working through this difficult year. The most important thing is that they [prices] should not jump during this period.”

“As we have noticed, not only Russians want to line their pockets, we also have such dealers,” Mr. Lukashenka said. “They may be few, but [we] should not under any circumstances give them an opportunity to work to raise prices.”

He stressed that Mr. Shorats was responsible for prices in Minsk, despite the fact that the trade ministry supervised pricing practices. “That is why prepare Minsk for these holidays, set the mood.” Mr. Lukashenka directed, adding that the happiness of children should be the authorities’ priority. // BelaPAN