On 13 April, at a meeting with Head of the Presidential Administration Ihar Siarheyenka, Chairman of the Council of the Republic Natallia Kachanava, State Secretary of the Security Council Andrei Raukou and Healthcare Minister Uladzimir Karanik, Alyaksandr Lukashenka criticized the Russian mass media for covering the coronavirus situation in Belarus.
“The information they publish is so nasty. ‘Batska’ treats his people with a tractor, vodka, bathhouse… You know, I made a joke once. But every joke is only partly a joke,” said the head of state.
“I would like to say to the Russians, who are talking idle: keep away from us! We don’t ask them for anything. We are saving ourselves, we are defending ourselves. Come to us, see for yourself. But why are you making fools of us in Russia? Why should a Russian person get it into their head that in the West, Belarusians, they are some kind of freaks?” continued Lukashenka.
“But no one in Russia will say anything about it. Someone does not need this truth there. Guess who this is. So I repeat once again: you keep away from us! All this will end, then we’ll see who is right and who is wrong,” added Lukashenka.
In addition, the head of state said that if Russia wanted to help Belarus during the epidemic, it could reduce the gas price for our country.
“If you want to help, give us a world price of natural gas. Today in Europe, Russia sells natural gas at $80, not exceeding $90 per 1 thousand cubic meters. And we pay $127. Where else is this price today? If you want to help, help us. We don’t ask for money, nothing. Why are you skinning us?” added Lukashenka.
