You're reading: Lukashenko: External factors behind Belarus economic crisis

Minsk – Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has blamed external factors for the current economic crisis in the country.

“We have encountered serious challenges to the economy. This situation was caused by external reasons because we have an open economy. Naturally, the events in Ukraine and the events in the economy of the Russian Federation – sanctions and the devaluation of the national currency of our neighbors in the economic union – could not help but affect the situation in the Belarusian economy along with the psychological factor,” Lukashenko said at a press conference in Minsk on Jan. 29.

The Belarusian authorities “tried to act promptly” and passed a set of anti-crisis measures, which are aimed at maintaining stability on the country’s financial market, he said.

“This time we were successful. Now let’s see what happens next,” Lukashenko said.

The government continues to monitor the situation on the currency and consumer markets, he said.

“We are working calmly because it is a question of money and money loves quiet. And if you want everything to stay calm, you should not make a fuss of this issue. This is how the psychology of any market economy works,” the Belarusian leader said.