Lukashenko: No migrants will leave as Belarus welcomes workers

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has responded to concerns raised by Poland and Lithuania regarding the influx of labour migrants into Belarus.

During his remarks while approving Sergey Levkovich's appointment as the first deputy chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Lukashenko emphasised that there was no cause for alarm, Caliber.Az reports via Belarus media.

"Poles are stirring up the situation with our refugees. They are most afraid that Pakistanis will come here," said Lukashenko. "They are afraid that these migrants will go there in addition, so the Poles and Lithuanians should calm down. No Afghans, no Turkmens, Uzbeks, or Tajiks will leave us. They will live and work here, those we accept. So they shouldn’t be panicking and inciting our people to make noise."

Lukashenko expressed the need to stop the unwarranted discussions surrounding labour migration, stating that it is a necessary resource for the country’s economy.

"We need to make the resources work and engage them. People are coming not only from the southern regions of the former Soviet Union, but also from Russia. From Lithuania, Latvia, even from Poland—though not many, but they are coming to us, ready to work," he clarified.

Lukashenko also reiterated that while Belarus is not actively seeking migrants from other republics, labour migration is essential for certain regions within the country.

"We’re not insisting that people come from other republics. But we cannot do without them in the Vitebsk region. Therefore, labour migration is normal," the president concluded.

By Tamilla Hasanova