Posted: 26.04.2022 13:03:00

Lukashenko comments on revival of Chernobyl regions

A decision to revive and develop the Chernobyl regions in Belarus was the right one – as stated by the President today

Aleksandr Lukashenko was reported on the implementation of the Presidential instructions dealing with overcoming of the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster. The Head of State noted that, in recent years and decades, he traditionally visited the Chernobyl zone on April 26th.

“Meanwhile, due to a difficult present situation – primarily, weather-related, I think we have nothing to do there. Heavy rains may be beneficial, but not for today. And it is not necessary to take people there, in the Chernobyl areas. This is the main reason why I have postponed visiting the Chernobyl territories on this day. Of course, we will fulfil this programme – planned at the level of the President – some time later,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.

The President asked how the already outlined plans are being realised, and how the instructions – given by the Head of State during his previous trips to the Chernobyl regions and meetings with people – are being implemented. “A social block is the number one issue. No matter what we are talking today about, people still keep problems in their memory... What is the situation there, and how are social issues being resolved?” he asked those present.


Aleksandr Lukashenko added that the economy is the second top-priority issue, “We have done much for people's lives. Time has shown (more than 30 years have passed), and we have seen that the right decisions – that we did not lay the vast territories of our country aside – were made. People live in these cities and villages, and – moreover – they work well, especially in the sphere of agriculture. But there are problems as well, so the economy… Privileges are in force, and we have made many decisions. How do enterprises function there from the economic point of view?”

Land resources was another topic on the agenda – involving everything related to land reclamation and land involvement in agricultural turnover. “Little by little, where it is possible [to advance there],” Aleksandr Lukashenko explained, adding, “Without driving people to the lands where it is difficult to work now, without straining the situation.”

The Head of State also mentioned the decisions made earlier with regard to development of woodworking and reforestation. “Many forests had to be restored then, and relevant instructions were given by me. In particular, people are much interested in fishing and trophy hunting. It is up to them how to do it. Security measures must be observed. Some there might catch huge fish – grown up in nature reserves, and then release it, and so on. It is not so significant. But we need to control it – to avoid such cases as ‘I will go there where I wish to’. If it is still a radioactive zone, [people] should not spread this infection over a clean territory. We talked about ecological tourism, beekeeping, and horse breeding. As experience and practice have shown, it is possible to be engaged into this business there, and it is producing good results,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted. 

Since 1990, Belarus has implemented five state programmes to overcome the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster – worth more than $19bn. The sixth programme is now being realised: it will run until 2025, and a total volume of funding makes almost Br3bn. Five tasks will be implemented as part of it: social protection, medical care, sanatorium treatment and rehabilitation of the affected population; radiation protection and targeted application of protective measures; contribution to socio-economic development of the affected regions; improvement of the organisation of sanatorium treatment and rehabilitation of children who live (study) in radioactive contaminated territories; scientific research and information work.

During the state programme implementation, benefits have been granted and compensation has been paid to those affected by the disaster in the amount of Br163.9m. More than 110,000 schoolchildren – who live in radionuclide-contaminated territories – have been provided with free meals worth Br46.8m.

84,100 citizens affected by the Chernobyl catastrophe, including 75,600 children, have undergone sanatorium treatment and rehabilitation. As part of the dispensary registration of persons affected by the Chernobyl disaster, a medical survey of 1,374,300 citizens, including 233,500 children and teenagers, has been conducted.

With an aim of infrastructure development in the affected areas, 724 residential buildings (apartments) have been supplied with gas, 34km of gas pipeline networks and 17.6km of water supply networks have been laid.

photos: www.belta.by