Lukashenko spoke about Belarus' success in import substitution

On Sunday, January 26, the incumbent president of Belarus and candidate for the post Alexander Lukashenko said in response to a question from Izvestia that the republic is making progress in import substitution, which has already affected the election process.

"We have a machine-building country. <...> Therefore, we are making serious progress in this respect, we have already reached import substitution in the electoral process," the head of state said.

The President cited the words of the head of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus, Igor Karpenko, who once noted that the country had achieved "electoral sovereignty."

Lukashenko said that Belarus has organized all the production facilities, which are necessary for the convenience of the country's residents, but it continues to develop and open enterprises, where they make products, for which there is demand abroad.

The head of state said that, for example, Minsk has created a technology park, which hosts small production facilities, employing up to 100 people. Many of them were created with the participation of foreigners, who even invested in these companies. Then these foreign investors left, but what is important is that they gave an impetus to the development of equipment and technologies. In addition, there is room for growth, and some of these enterprises may become several times larger in the future.

In response to another question from Izvestia, the president spoke about his plans after the elections in case of re-election.

"It will be strange if I go (on my first visit. - Ed.) somewhere other than Moscow. It will not just be strange, it will be incomprehensible for many. So I plan that we'll meet with Russian President[Vladimir Putin] in Moscow," said Lukashenko.

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Earlier, on December 6, 2024, Putin told a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State in Minsk that cooperation between Russia and Belarus in the industrial sphere is built with a focus on import substitution, with 27 such projects underway. Nevertheless, this figure should be increased in the future. In addition, emphasis is placed on the production of high value-added products.

Polling stations for the main voting in the presidential election in Belarus opened throughout the country at 8:00 a.m. on January 26. They will work until 20:00. Observers, including observers from Western countries, are following the course of the people's will. They noted that the process is organized transparently. In addition, representatives of 70 foreign mass media are covering the voting process.

The voter turnout exceeded 50% as of 12:00, and the CEC recognized the elections valid.

The candidates for the presidential election were the incumbent leader of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus Oleg Gaidukevich, MP Anna Kanopatskaya, leader of the Belarusian Communists Sergei Syrankov and leader of the Party of Labor and Justice Alexander Khizhnyak.