Lukashenko eases embargo as Belarus faces vegetable crisis
Alexander Lukashenko must confront the problem of hunger in Belarus. His country is lacking in basic vegetables, particularly potatoes. The Belarusian leader is attempting to address the issue, which he attributes to Russia.
The Belarusian authorities have recently made a surprising decision by opting to ease the food embargo. The list of exempted countries includes what they label as unfriendly nations, meaning Western European countries.
Officially, Belarusian officials suggest this is a sign of "openness" and a desire to improve relations with neighbouring nations. Unofficially, the lifting of the ban on importing onions, potatoes, and cabbage is driven by the worsening economic crisis and food shortages in the country.
Journalists from "The Moscow Times" assert that Lukashenko partly blames Vladimir Putin for the crisis. The Belarusian leader reportedly told the Kremlin chief that Belarus sold everything to Russia, while Belarusians complain about the poor quality and scarcity of vegetables in shops.
This information was confirmed by Alexander Azarau, head of the Belarusian anti-government organisation BYPOL. The opposition member says that Lukashenko is keen to see the Russia-Ukraine war end as soon as possible. The sanctions are having a significant impact on him. There are informations that Belarus is short of essential food items. Involvement in this war is causing him concern. He would like to resume trade with the European Union
A serious hunger crisis is also present in Russia. Data from the Federal State Statistics Service indicates that the year-on-year price increase for potatoes is 166 per cent. Russian authorities have banned potato exports and plan to control the prices of these vegetables.
