Officials fear to speak?

A press conference on hot questions about the social and economic situation in the country has been cancelled.

The event was scheduled for today in the National press centre, “Narodnaya Volya” newspaper reports.

Minister of Economy of Belarus Mikalai Snapkou, Minister of Finance Andrei Kharkavets, First Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection Pyotr Hrushnik were expected to give a press conference. Journalists had a lot of questions to ask each of them.

The conference was cancelled without giving reasons, thought a great deal of journalists were expected to come. The press centre even limited the number of journalists from one media outlet: one correspondent to take notes and another one to take photos or record video.

But Belarusian authorities changed their mind and refused to answer burning questions relating to the country’s economy. Instead, the press centre offered journalists to learn about the epidemiologic situation and achievements of light industry ahead of the professional holiday.