Lukashenko is concerned about Belarus turning into a casino
Belarus’s self-proclaimed president, Alexander Lukashenko, has instructed the leadership of his administration and the State Control Committee to further investigate the gambling industry and restrict advertising for games of chance. According to him, the country “has turned into a casino,” and a large-scale advertising campaign with the slogan “Spin the Wheel” has caused particular discontent.
During a meeting, Lukashenko stated that such advertisements are everywhere, which has led to claims in society that his family is allegedly involved in this business.
He instructed the head of the administration, Dmitry Krutoy, and the head of the State Control Committee, Vasily Gerasimov, to investigate the situation, noting that audits had also revealed a significant outflow of funds from the gambling sector out of the country. Earlier, the Belarusian Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation announced that it was drafting proposals to restrict gambling advertising following relevant complaints from citizens.
The publication “OBOZ.UA” reported this, citing Belarusian media.
At this time, the Belarusian authorities have not stated that the inspection is related to preparations for actual combat operations. Officially, its stated purpose is to assess the army’s readiness to operate under modern conditions. This was reported by the country’s Ministry of Defense.
In the Gomel region of Belarus, near the Yakimovka station, a new military training ground is being built with railway infrastructure capable of facilitating the rapid movement of heavy equipment. The facility is located approximately 40 km from the Ukrainian border, and its construction is confirmed by satellite imagery and government procurement data.
