Lukashenko voiced key requirements to passenger transportation
The President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, has convened a meeting today with passenger transportation issues on the agenda
As noted by the Head of State, the topic put up for discussion is very sensitive for Belarusians, “We are focusing on this issue not only and not so much due to a number of road traffic accidents, but also because there are many directions, unsettled problems in our life. Since the security of people, our citizens – not to mention quite many taxes and violations – is in the spotlight, this issue is subject to regulation. This also applies to minibuses, which work in cities and service intercity routes, and also taxi cars.”
“The state has two simple requirements for this area. The first one deals with people’s safety, since many of our citizens and guests of the country use this means of transport. The second one is related to the legal work of carriers, because the revenue is underestimated, hidden, envelope salaries are paid, while many taxes are not paid. Well, law enforcement agencies are investigating this issue. I would like [Interior Minister Ivan] Kubrakov and [KGB Chief Ivan] Tertel to report to me until the end of this year for further decision-making. There should be no talk with such people: those who fail to pay taxes should be sent there [to prison],” the Head of State noted.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that not all participants in this business observe generally clear and fair rules, “As the inspections of the State Control Committee show, there are a lot of unfair businessmen. In nine months of 2023, a little more than 10 thousand cars were inspected, and nine thousand violations were detected. The worst thing is that illegal workers deliberately avoid the security requirements that are imposed on regular carriers.”
As noted by the President, these requirements include – among other things – the availability of the necessary driver's category and the length of service. “Anyone who wishes is involved into people’s transportation, and – as a result – terrible accidents happen (like the one near Smolevichi), and children die. No one is to blame. There is no driving experience, no category, no permission to start transportation, no technical inspection, and the work-and-rest regime is not observed. These drivers work day and night, since this brings money to their employers. Such an attitude will sooner or later lead to a tragedy like an accident in the Smolevichi District, where a dozen and a half people died, including children,” he added.
