Posted: 21.03.2023 12:18:00

Lukashenko: children and pensioners should understand that the state will always lend them a shoulder and protect them

In 2022, there were a number of negative trends that should be paid attention to – as stated by the President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, at today’s meeting on the issues of the country’s security and military activity

In particular, the Belarusian leader stated that the work on crime prevention is insufficient, “This especially refers to fraud. The number of victims has doubled, and the number of pensioners affected by so-called telephone scams has increased almost fivefold. I always thought that our pensioners are smart, from the point of view of their experience. However, as you can see, they part with money virtually without hesitation in the simplest situations. In this regard, what measures does our police plan to take together with other state bodies in this regard? We need to protect these people [pensioners]. Children and pensioners should understand that the state will always give them a shoulder and protect them!”

As noted by the President, women and children still become victims of violence, including sexual one, and – with this in view – it is necessary to strengthen the work on their protection, as well as the prevention of juvenile delinquency. Aleksandr Lukashenko seriously addressed the meeting participants, “Men, if we cannot protect our women, then we are of no worth! The most drastic action should be taken in this regard. This is unacceptable! You see, we are always relaxed, because it concerns neither our wife nor our daughter. God forbid, of course, but just imagine this – and then take this as the basis for your future action. This must be uprooted from our society by the most severe methods – like the fight against terrorism.”

There is also a large number of serious crimes committed by persons with previous convictions, and this is especially true for those who have been previously imprisoned. “It is necessary to treat them stricter. Some might be released from prison ahead of time and join the society, but then again start playing dirty tricks. I would like to repeat another time: an unemployed person is a potential criminal. The measures taken to employ these persons are insufficient. Once again, I would like to draw your attention so that you take seriously those who do not work today. These are definitely criminals, and nothing needs to be proved: where do they get a living from if they have no job? It is clear where from," the Belarusian leader stressed.

The Head of State added that not everything has been done in the field of ensuring the safety of the population: many people still die as a result of car accidents.

“We have one more issue. Our society does not live in a vacuum, and people see everything that happens. There is an opinion that employees of the internal affairs bodies are primarily interested not in the fate of a person, but in figures and ratings that measure the effectiveness of their work. True, there should be figures and ratings, and nobody is against them. But if we live only with figures and ratings in view… I would like to be reported on whether this is true. Have we moved away from the show-off in our performance evaluation system?” Aleksandr Lukashenko addressed those present.

The President added that the facts of crimes among military personnel, including those committed by officers of various law enforcement agencies, are alarming, “What is the reason? I have repeatedly given the Defence Minister notice of the inadmissibility of what sometimes happens in military units. In general, not everything is going smoothly when we speak about military discipline. We perfectly see and understand everything that is happening on the borders of our country. The question is whether we fully ensure the security of our state and citizens.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko asked the meeting participants to analyse the reasons for such negativity and to make concrete proposals to restore order.

photos: www.president.gov.by