Lukashenko: Plenty of human traffickers in Minsk-based diplomatic missions :: Charter'97 :: News

Aleksandr Lukashenko, in his annual address to the National Assembly on Tuesday, said that there are plenty of “phonies” involved in trafficking Belarusian women in Minsk-based diplomatic missions, especially in East European countries’ embassies and international company offices.

At present several representatives of the Lukoil subsidiary in Minsk are questioned in connection with a women trafficking ring, he noted.

“It is impossible to ban people from going abroad, we do not live in an isolated society,” but the government should protect its citizens, he said.

Mr. Lukashenko added that a presidential decree against human trafficking had passed the lower chamber earlier this month.

“It is necessary to support our people, establish control over them to make sure that they do not feel bad there [abroad], nobody torments them,” he said.

According to Mr. Lukashenko, Belarus’ police have arrested many human traffickers recently. The police have cracked down on illegal trafficking businesses that made millions of dollars, he said.