Łukašenka demands fast-food chain switch fully to local potatoes

August 28, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka has directed the Mak.by fast-food chain, which replaced McDonald’s in Belarus two years ago, to use only domestically grown potatoes, Pul Pervogo, his press office’s unofficial Telegram channel reports.
“Starting October 1, Mak.by must not use any imported potatoes or cutlets. Everything on the menu should be Belarusian. Why are you feeding people this American junk?” he said while visiting the Mahiloŭ region’s Kiraŭsk district.
Łukašenka was confident that this year’s potato harvest would be “sufficient,” pointing to an expansion in cultivated areas. He emphasized that Belarusian potatoes would be in high demand abroad, especially in Russia.
He also called on potato suppliers to “establish clear links with retail chains to ensure that potatoes are delivered to stores on time and that the situation that occurred this spring does not repeat itself,” in a reference to potato shortages earlier this year.
In 2024, Belarus’ potato harvest was 22.5 percent lower than in 2023.
Potato prices drop nearly 5 percent after months of sharp increases
- Politics, Security, SocietyLithuania finds third tunnel at Belarusian border in two weeksThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityPoland reiterates Belarus travel warning, flags risks for dual citizensThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityPolish security official defends dialogue with MinskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics, Security
- SocietyFormer oil refinery engineer sentenced to 13 years for corruptionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- EconomyBelarus’ gold and foreign exchange reserves up 0.3 percent in JulyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus to subsidize food export logistics costs to Asia, Africa, Latin AmericaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- PoliticsNew conviction, “extremist” designations, other instances of political purges reported in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Security, SocietyLatvia reopens border with BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyNew car sales surge amid cheap loansThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- PoliticsAt least 2,053 NGOs dissolved in Belarus since August 2020 – LawtrendThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, SecurityNew tech academy could build ultimate anti-drone weapon, Łukašenka saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsLatvia expands ban on imports from BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security, Society
- Politics
- EconomyLoss of EU customers shifts Belarusian berry sales to Russia — officialThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyMan posing as police officer arrested in MinskThe material is available only to POZIRK+



