True or false? Euroradio verifies Lukashenka's statements from news conference

Belarus President Alyaksandr Lukashenka on November 17 said many interesting and incredible things during the traditional annual press conference for Russian journalists and bloggers in Minsk. Euroradio has verified some of the state leader’s statements.

Is it true that our utility bills are cheaper than in Russia?

"You can double the wages and increase the price for certain services,” Alyaksandr Lukashenka said at the press conference referring to the communal services. A cubic metre of water costs 15 cents in Minsk, 53 cents – in Moscow and 36 – in Smolensk, he said. The prices for the other services differ accordingly.

Let us check if the information is true. There are a lot of private companies rendering utility services in Russia and the prices may differ by up to 30%. A cubic meter of water is sold by Moskvodokanal for 33 Russian roubles or 52 cents. Lukashenka was right.

Smolensk's Gorvodokanal sells water at 22 Russian roubles or 32 cents for one cubic metre. This is also true. Minsk prices were also true with some reservation. We pay 15 cents only for the first 140 litres. Then the price goes up to 35 cents which is almost the same as in Moscow and Smolensk.

Let us check the costs of central heating. Minskers pay $6.8 for 1 gigacalorie. It costs $15.6 in Moscow (Mosenergo) and $22 in Smolensk (Kvadro). Our heating is twice or thrice cheaper.

What about hot water? Minskers pay $1.82 for one cubic metre. It costs $2 in Moscow (Mosenergo) and $2.13 – in Smolensk (Smolenskteploset). Our water is not much cheaper.

Do Russian women prefer giving birth in Belarus?

"Women are coming to Vitebsk from Moscow area to give birth here,” Lukashenka announced at the press conference. 10-12 Russians give birth in Vitsebsk Regional Hospital every month, the hospital administration told Euroradio. It costs them from 80 to 160 roubles. 114 Russians gave birth in another maternity hospital in Vitsebsk in the past 10 months.

They do come and give birth in Belarus, indeed!

Is it true that there are no Belarusian guest workers in Moscow?

“There are no Belarusian guest workers in Moscow”, Lukashenka claimed all of a sudden. The builders who used to work in Moscow are reluctant to go there now. However, if they want to work in Russia they can go to Belarusian affiliates and work legally.

The first construction company in Moscow Euroradio contacted has refuted the president’s words:

“We have a lot of Belarusian workers. There are 130 people working at this object. Every second person is a Belarusian,” the Moscow building company Tekhnostroi replied. “A lot of Belarusians keep coming to us. They make from 50 thousand Russian roubles ($760) a month.” The company is not directly connected with Belarusian building enterprises.

Is it true that 90% of Belarusian students study for free?

“How many Russian students pay for education? 90% of our students study at the expense of the budget,” the state leader said.

According to Belstat, only 40% of Belarusian university students study at the expense of the budget. The others pay for education. About 61% of full-time students pay for their education in Belarus.

Is it true that any Belarusian can order a tour to the Independence Palace?

The president told Russian journalists that every Belarusian can visit the palace. The Museum of Belarusian Statehood has confirmed the information to Euroradio. “You need to apply for a group excursion, fill in a form and wait until we call you. The excursions are quite popular. I cannot tell you how many excursions were organized last month because I am new here,” a museum employee told Euroradio.

Is it true that the average wage used to be $700 in Belarus?

"I cannot tell you for sure what the average wage was last month… About 400 dollars. We used to have 600 and 700 dollars. But the inflation and other factors have changed the wage,” Lukashenka noted.

In reality, the average wage in Belarus has never exceeded $629, Belstat reports. It happened in July 2014. At the moment, it is $377.

Are experts predicting the growth of our GDP?​

"Experts predict the growth of your (Russian) GDP by about 0.7% and our GDP is expected to increase by 1-1.5%,” Lukashenka claimed.

Here is the forecast of the International Monetary Fund for the next year. Experts predict the decrease of the Belarusian GDP by 0.5%. Moody’s expects our GDP to go 0.4% up, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development – 1% up and the EDB – 0.6% up.