Lukashenko vows tough action over bureaucratic delays in housing loans

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has called on the government to take tough action against officials and banks over bureaucratic delays in issuing housing loans.

Speaking at a meeting on construction, Lukashenko said complaints about local authorities and banks were periodically appearing in the media and on social media.

“There should be no such situations! And here the government must get fully involved and, excuse me for the harsh language, tear off the arms and legs for such things, regardless of whether they are banks or some bureaucrats,” he said, according to the Belarusian national news agency.

Lukashenko also highlighted overdue rent and utility payments. He said rent for a two-room flat in some regional centres could be about 30 Belarusian roubles ($10) a month.

Total overdue rent and utility payments across Belarus had exceeded 20 million Belarusian roubles ($6.6 million), he said.

Lukashenko said people facing difficult circumstances should be helped, but that the systematic accumulation of debt needed to be addressed.

By Aghakazim Guliyev