‘Lukashenka, give us drinking water!’: Village people have to take it from city


Among all the blessings of the civilized living the settlement of Ilyich which is situated five kilometers from Homiel can boast only of electrification. There are still no gas pipes, residents keep complaining of poorroads. Last year drinking water vanished. The locals managed to cope with the situation taking water from wells, but in the winter water was gone from there.

 “We take water from the city. Our children and grandchildren carry it. They  takes bottles of water and come here by train.”

 “All of us go to the well, there is a lake near the rails – everyone goes there .”

The people turned to local officials first. But the latter shrug their shoulders – Ulakava local council, which is responsible for the settlement, has no money. Then the residents decided to ask for last-resort assistance – the Belarusian president.

“Alyaksandr Ryhoravich, please help us, war pensioners, so that we could have clean water!”

“We keep faith, and we will have water. Let’s rely on our president.”

But is the head of state personally responsible for drinking water? Human rights activists say that in some way he is.

Leonid Sudalenka, human rights activist:

“The Constitution says that the Republic of Belarus guarantees citizens the right to health, to a healthy environment. And if there is such a commitment, officials should take charge of it.”

But in vain. That is why people rest hopes in ‘the leader of the leaders’. And every election year they promise him: “We believe that Lukashenka will help us and we will vote for him – only for him.”

www.belsat.eu/en/

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