On What Lies Behind Lukashenka's Decree On Executive Committees

• 24.02.2025, 12:26

The decree comes into force on 1 March.

21 February 2025, Aliaksandr Lukashenka signed Decree №74 ‘On strengthening the role of chairmen of executive committees of the basic level in developing the regions’. According to the authorities, this document is aimed at improving the welfare of the regions and the life of citizens. However, is it so? And do similar laws exist in other countries? UDF writes about it.

What is the essence of the decree, signed by Aliaksandr Lukashenka during the ‘Year of Well-Being’ announced by him? Its main ‘feature’ - local executive committees have got more financial and administrative opportunities. Now they have the full right to control closing of organisations and enterprises on their territory. That is, if before some private enterprise could ‘declare itself bankrupt’, now the chairmen of the executive committee must approve this process.

‘Decisions on closing objects significant for the district or suspending the work of organisations now require approval of the district and city executive committees.’

The authorities explain it by concern about the citizens. Allegedly, the decree helps to prevent the loss of jobs or the liquidation of facilities important for the region (for example, shops, schools, hospitals)..... But there is a ‘cherry on the cake’. According to the decree, executive committee chairmen can now involve the population and organisations (including private firms) in measures to restore order and beautification - ‘offer’ them financial participation in planting trees or installing playgrounds. That is, there will be more subbotniks, and the repair in the entrance hall will fall on the shoulders of tenants, as well as the cleaning of snow in the yard. And if someone happens to refuse, local officials will be able to bring that person to administrative responsibility!

‘Chairmen of executive committees have received the right to issue written demands to eliminate violations of legislation and to bring to disciplinary responsibility the heads of subordinate executive committees and organisations. Failure to fulfil these requirements entails administrative responsibility.’

However, there are some pluses. The rules for the sale of minerals, such as sand, for citizens' own needs and for the improvement of territories have been simplified. That is, if you need sand or gravel for your needs (for example, to make a road near your house), now, probably, it will be easier to do it.

What is the situation in other countries...? Do such laws exist there? As it turns out, yes.

In Russia, for example, there is a practice of ‘voluntary and compulsory’ subbotniks and involvement of residents in landscaping. In addition, there are citizens' self-assessment programmes, when people vote to raise money for local needs (e.g. road repairs, lighting). In some regions, if the majority vote in favour, everyone is obliged to pay.

China has a system of public participation in beautification. A lot of streets, yards, and even businesses are maintained through voluntary (or, in fact, compulsory) efforts of citizens. In some districts, residents may be forced to clean up the area around their houses.

In Germany, there is an obligation to clear the snow in front of your house or entrance. If you don't clear it, you can be fined, and if someone slips and gets injured, you can be held liable. However, repairs of entrances, roads and other public facilities are fully paid for by the state - at the expense of taxes.

In the USA, there is a practice of involving citizens in improving public amenities, but on a voluntary basis. In some neighbourhoods, residents create HOA - homeowners' associations. They themselves decide how much to pay for cleaning, repairs and landscaping, and if someone does not pay, they can be fined. However, there are no such requirements for citizens in state structures.

In France, residents are not obliged to participate in landscaping, but can do it voluntarily. If utilities do not clean or repair well, you can complain, and the municipality is obliged to fix the problem.

The decree № 74, which comes into force in Belarus on 1 March 2025, is the closest to the policy pursued by Russia and China. Some of its points may seem unfair to many residents of our country. After all, taxes have already been paid to the treasury, including payments for capital repairs in utility bills. And people expect that the repair of entrances, street cleaning, and landscaping are the concern of the state and public utilities.

Formally, nobody can force either citizens of Belarus or private firms to participate in subbotniks, insulation of the house or painting of the entrance walls. But in reality there are ‘levers of pressure’. For example, if the residents refuse to chip in for the repair of the entrance, they can be told: ‘Well, then let's wait for another five years’. Or, perhaps, the snow will be removed in the neighbouring yard, where the residents have agreed to help the state, but it will not be removed in yours on the grounds that there is a shortage of equipment and workers. And private business, in case of refusing financial assistance for landscaping, may be deprived of contracts, ‘harassed’ by inspections and denied certain permits.

We couldn't help but remember such a country as North Korea.... Yes, there is no formal ‘self-assessment’ of citizens there. But there is strict compulsion for public works. They hold subbotniks (cheonne), during which every citizen (official, student) is obliged to participate in street cleaning, road repair, agricultural work. There are also ‘voluntary contributions’, when residents of the country and enterprises donate money for the needs of the state: military expenditures, support for Kim Jong-un or construction of new facilities. If a person refuses to participate, he or she can be fined, fired, and sometimes even arrested. In addition, there is a ‘principle of collective responsibility’ in North Korea, when for the ‘bad behaviour’ of one person, his relatives can be punished as well.

Things are not that ‘tough’ in Belarus yet. But here's what is alarming: if people suddenly become indignant, Lukashenka will explain it by ‘occasional overzealousness,’ saying that the officials have misunderstood the situation. And he will cancel Decree No. 74 as a ‘good tsar’ who cares about his people....