{"id":204457,"date":"2026-09-19T14:39:38","date_gmt":"2026-09-19T11:39:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/204457\/"},"modified":"2026-09-19T14:39:41","modified_gmt":"2026-09-19T11:39:41","slug":"lukasenka-threatens-officials-with-prison-for-failing-to-pull-flax-properly","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/204457\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0141uka\u0161enka\u00a0threatens officials with prison for failing to pull flax properly"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka's press office) <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

September 19, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka scalded officials while inspecting a flax field in his native \u0160k\u0142o\u016d district, Mahilo\u016d region, on Friday, threatening them with prison for allegedly failing to properly harvest flax. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou wanted to show how one should not work? One should go to prison for this,\u201d \u0141uka\u0161enka was quoted as saying by his press office. \u201cThis is how you pull flax? Disgusting.\u201d The Belarusian ruler said that he had not expected such performance from Anatol Isa\u010danka, head of the Mahilo\u016d Regional Executive Committee. He also slammed Agriculture Minister Juryj Hor\u0142a\u016d and presidential aide in the Mahilo\u016d region, Nadzieja Katkaviecfor \u201cruining\u201d the flax harvest. \u201cThere is no flax here, and what remains is rotten,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka reasoned that the other fields must be \u201cin an absolutely terrible condition\u201d if the field where officials had \u201cdared land the presidential helicopter\u201d turned out to be so poorly managed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka dismissed Katkaviec\u2019s comment that farms do not have enough machinery. \u201cGo ahead and buy [it],\u201d he replied bluntly. \u201cBut what can you buy for this flax? There is no basic discipline here. If there are no technologies, why give out tractors and combines? Put the region on martial law and start working. Otherwise this will be our last conversation.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka also blasted the quality of plowing in the region and threatened the officials with dismissal \u201cif at least one [square] meter remains unplowed.\u201d \u201cIn the Soviet era you would immediately be handcuffed and imprisoned,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Katkaviec, a longtime associate of \u0141uka\u0161enka who has held a number of senior positions during her career, was appointed as presidential aide in the Mahilo\u016d region in July 2026. While meeting with the appointee, \u0141uka\u0161enka said that he wants the \u0160k\u0142o\u016d district to become a \u201cmodel that can be replicated across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka, a former Soviet collective farm boss himself, frequently lectures officials and farm managers on agriculture and demands better performance under threat of disciplinary punishment, arrest and even physical harm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While visiting the S\u0142uck Meat-Packing Plant in the Minsk region in April 2014, \u0141uka\u0161enka said that its managers should be locked inside the facility and forced to eat rotten meat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months ago, \u0141uka\u0161enka directed that individuals who have failed to perform their duties properly during the 2026 harvesting season, including officials of all levels, should be sent to southern Belarus to guard the border with Ukraine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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