Economist, Leonid Zlotnikov, commented on the address of Alexander Lukashenko to the Belarusian people and the parliament, made by the country's leader on April 20. The head of state, in particular, negatively estimated the experts' statements at the beginning of economic crisis with their predictions of the situation: "How much damage brought these squawking economists".
«Economists were right, Leonid Zlotnikov said in an interview to Belarusian service of Radio Liberty. «Because the devaluation was in fact! Even though the president himself and other officials promised that it would not be. And then suddenly, from January 1, 2009, dollar exchange rate was raised. What can I say? If you do not listen to these «squawking economists», there will be even worse. These «squawking economists» at least give the facts and analytics for government economists. And I think it helps them. They read, they know — then, it really helps».
Russia taps Lukashenko’s phones, Lebedko
Leader of the UCP, Anatoly Lebedko, commented on the statement made by Alexander Lukashenko on April 20, that the president of Kyrgyzstan, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, is in Minsk. «It has become an «open secret» the politician believes. «And Lukashenko pressed so strongly, that Russia has already reached the point that taps his phones and leak information to the press».
According to Lebedko, basing on the address on April 20, if to create some «scale» of external enemies, then Russia appears in it under the first number: «I think we should expect that the near-term relations between Moscow and Minsk will remain tense as the minimum, and we should expect some new «wars». The situation will not freeze at this point and will not stop. I do not think that now it is not so easy for the Kremlin to swallow what was announced by Lukashenko. Because it is already beyond the diplomacy».
