Lukashenko Threatened Undisciplined Farmers with Military Drills
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated that agricultural workers should not be “pampered.” At the same time, he noted that those who produce results should be paid their salaries on time.
During a visit to the “Savushkin-Luch” agricultural enterprise, Lukashenko also spoke about discipline among farmers and the military-style training camps he had previously proposed for those who fail to perform their duties or violate the rules.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated that farmers should not be overly encouraged or “pampered,” but workers should be paid based on the results of their work. He made these remarks during a visit to the “Savushkin-Luch” agricultural enterprise. “Don’t be stingy with the farmers. You can’t spoil them, but if they deliver results, they should be paid,” Lukashenko said.
According to him, the enterprise’s manager must set specific tasks for the workers and, once they are completed, pay their wages on time. “Tell them what to do, let them do it, and that’s how they’ll earn their money—payments on time,” noted the Belarusian president. According to Belstat, in June 2026, the average accrued salary in the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors in Belarus was 2,346 Belarusian rubles. That is approximately 840 U.S. dollars.
By comparison, the national average salary during this period was higher—about 3,104 Belarusian rubles, or approximately $1,110. Lukashenko had previously made harsh statements regarding agricultural workers who, in his view, fail to fulfill their duties or violate labor discipline during the harvest.
He stated that such people could be sent to military training camps lasting two to three months. According to Lukashenko, this is supposedly not meant to be a punishment, but rather an opportunity to “re-educate” workers and test them under new conditions. “Real work for men and women is in the army. There are mosquitoes, gnats, and so on. Let them serve there. This isn’t some kind of torment for people; we’re simply giving them a chance to prove themselves,” Lukashenko said.
He also stated that after brief training and instruction in the use of weapons, such employees could be assigned to special operations units stationed near the border with Ukraine. Lukashenko’s administration had previously reported that “slackers, employees with disciplinary records, those who violate discipline, and those who perform their duties poorly” could be involved in such measures. At the same time, the Belarusian leader emphasizes that the main goal of such measures is allegedly to enforce “iron discipline” during important agricultural work. This information comes from Belarusian media.
Belarus’s self-proclaimed president, Alexander Lukashenko, stated that agricultural workers who fail to fulfill their duties or violate labor discipline will be sent to two- to three-month “military-style re-education” programs.
