Many affluent foreign citizens have been moving to Belarus as a place where they can live peacefully, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said on June 8 while laying a time capsule at the site of a future memorial commemorating Trastsyanets death camp prisoners near Minsk.
Echoing Russian President Vladimir Putin's anti-Western rhetoric, Mr. Lukashenka described Belarus as the stronghold of traditional values as opposed to a moral decline in the West.
"They are now paying tribute to us for remaining the people who should live in this land and be an example of how one should live and build relations," the government's news agency BelTA quoted him as saying. "We are showing true values to entire Europe, the entire world and seek to preserve these values. Yes, this has not been easy for us: we have been pounded and will be pounded for that. But we cannot betray this sacred thing."
"There's a huge movement of people [to Belarus], of not only refugees but also rich and middle-class people. And this is thanks to the quiet and peace that we have today."
"The time will come and we will be rich materially because we are rich spiritually," Mr. Lukashenka said.
The Belarusian leader attacked Europe for what he said was questioning traditional values and destroying centuries-old traditions.
"People who live and work in Europe are concerned that it is in trouble. And I'm proud that you, my people, are the stronghold of these values," he stressed.
