It pays well to be in opposition to the current government in Belarus, and therefore Belarus’ "so-called opposition" does not seek to take power in the country, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said in an interview broadcast Wednesday by Dozhd, a Russian independent television channel.
However, opposition leaders are currently paid less than before because they have showed their unworthiness, the Belarusian leader said.
According to him, he is aware that “money was again brought to the opposition” on the occasion of the forthcoming world ice hockey championship in Minsk.
“I shut my eyes to this,” he said, noting that he asked his state security agencies to overlook some things, as opposition activists did not take away that money but spent it inside the country, buying housing, cars and motor fuel for themselves.
“Thankfully, we don’t have to pay them to have a government-supported opposition as is the case in your country,” Mr. Lukashenka said.
