Lukashenko vows to protect trade interests, insists on decent rural services
07.08.2026
VILEIKA DISTRICT (
BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko promised to protect trade interests while pushing for better service standards in rural areas as he spoke during his working visit to Vileika District on 7 August, BelTA has learned.
The president noted that the state has done a great deal to organize trade in rural areas, with relevant regulations already adopted. This includes a decree aimed at increasing the social responsibility of retail entities in rural areas, which, as an experiment, removed infrastructure restrictions for retail chains in nine districts of the country. In addition, a decree supporting consumer cooperatives is also being implemented.
Thanks to the measures taken and state support, new formats and mobile trade options have emerged in rural communities. These include prefabricated retail pavilions (one is used by the Evroopt chain), and mobile shops that allow customers to step inside and choose products themselves (available at Dobronom and Evroopt). These modern models were demonstrated to the head of state in Vileika, alongside the more traditional, simpler versions of mobile shops used by Belcoopsoyuz and local trade enterprises.
“We have invested considerable money in this. At the presidential level, we have paid attention to this, not only to Belcoopsoyuz. New directions for serving the rural population have emerged. And God forbid people start complaining. This is not because I am from the village, but because the rural areas must be served properly if we expect anything from it,” the president emphasized.
At the same time, the president promised to take into account the interests of retail chains and not to harm them, as they obviously cannot operate at a loss. However, if they are making profits in large cities, they should also take on the additional responsibility of serving small villages.
“Keep in mind, this applies to everyone, both Belcoopsoyuz and private enterprises, we will not oppress you,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko. “I know very well what trade is. I know your business. As an economist, I understand that you must not operate at a loss. But you must solve your own problems. You asked, I signed the decree, I resolved the issues. We invested considerable money in this. Now give a return. We will demand that from you. If Evroopt or Eurotorg have found a ‘goldmine’ and are doing well, with profitability over 30 or even 50, then take along the way, or somewhere off to the side, the less developed towns and villages. Is that not humane? It is humane. That is the direction we will move in.”
At the same time, the president emphasized the role of local authorities in building the trade structure in rural areas and coordinating service routes. “They must get fully involved.” The head of state also assigned a special role to Belcoopsoyuz. “You must be the trendsetter here, together with local authorities,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said, addressing Inessa Korotkevich, the head of the organization. “But wisely, do not pull the blanket over yourself.”
The head of state recalled how, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the existing system of organizing rural work in Belarus began to fall apart, and then it had to be rebuilt – the district agricultural service centers, construction and assembly organizations, agricultural chemical services, and so on. Now it is necessary to build a system for organizing rural trade, defining the roles of private and state structures. “We must move toward something. We must clearly define things so that the entire population is covered,” the president said.
“We must properly serve the rural population. There is no other way. I will control this strictly,” Aleksandr Lukashenko warned.
“Let me emphasize again: there is no goal to strangle trade. We will keep an eye on prices. There must be a formula of fairness. This means that the population should be satisfied, but you should not operate at a loss either. Otherwise, tomorrow the trading company will fall apart... We don’t need that. We will support you, do everything we can, but we will also hold you accountable,” the president said.
The president noted that the state has done a great deal to organize trade in rural areas, with relevant regulations already adopted. This includes a decree aimed at increasing the social responsibility of retail entities in rural areas, which, as an experiment, removed infrastructure restrictions for retail chains in nine districts of the country. In addition, a decree supporting consumer cooperatives is also being implemented.
Thanks to the measures taken and state support, new formats and mobile trade options have emerged in rural communities. These include prefabricated retail pavilions (one is used by the Evroopt chain), and mobile shops that allow customers to step inside and choose products themselves (available at Dobronom and Evroopt). These modern models were demonstrated to the head of state in Vileika, alongside the more traditional, simpler versions of mobile shops used by Belcoopsoyuz and local trade enterprises.
“We have invested considerable money in this. At the presidential level, we have paid attention to this, not only to Belcoopsoyuz. New directions for serving the rural population have emerged. And God forbid people start complaining. This is not because I am from the village, but because the rural areas must be served properly if we expect anything from it,” the president emphasized.
At the same time, the president promised to take into account the interests of retail chains and not to harm them, as they obviously cannot operate at a loss. However, if they are making profits in large cities, they should also take on the additional responsibility of serving small villages.
“Keep in mind, this applies to everyone, both Belcoopsoyuz and private enterprises, we will not oppress you,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko. “I know very well what trade is. I know your business. As an economist, I understand that you must not operate at a loss. But you must solve your own problems. You asked, I signed the decree, I resolved the issues. We invested considerable money in this. Now give a return. We will demand that from you. If Evroopt or Eurotorg have found a ‘goldmine’ and are doing well, with profitability over 30 or even 50, then take along the way, or somewhere off to the side, the less developed towns and villages. Is that not humane? It is humane. That is the direction we will move in.”
At the same time, the president emphasized the role of local authorities in building the trade structure in rural areas and coordinating service routes. “They must get fully involved.” The head of state also assigned a special role to Belcoopsoyuz. “You must be the trendsetter here, together with local authorities,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said, addressing Inessa Korotkevich, the head of the organization. “But wisely, do not pull the blanket over yourself.”
The head of state recalled how, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the existing system of organizing rural work in Belarus began to fall apart, and then it had to be rebuilt – the district agricultural service centers, construction and assembly organizations, agricultural chemical services, and so on. Now it is necessary to build a system for organizing rural trade, defining the roles of private and state structures. “We must move toward something. We must clearly define things so that the entire population is covered,” the president said.
“We must properly serve the rural population. There is no other way. I will control this strictly,” Aleksandr Lukashenko warned.
“Let me emphasize again: there is no goal to strangle trade. We will keep an eye on prices. There must be a formula of fairness. This means that the population should be satisfied, but you should not operate at a loss either. Otherwise, tomorrow the trading company will fall apart... We don’t need that. We will support you, do everything we can, but we will also hold you accountable,” the president said.