Belarus To Retain Control Over Tobacco

The tobacco business in Belarus will remain under state control, President Aleksandr Lukashenko announced on Dec. 2, 2024, according to BelTA.

While approving the candidacy of Andrei Demidovets for the post of Director General of Minsk Kristall Group Holding Management Co., the president noted that alcohol and tobacco companies in Belarus are managed by the state. “We will stick to this course,” the head of state emphasized.  

“Tobacco products, alcohol account for a big part of the budget and this sector closely related to people’s health,” Lukashenko noted. “I do not remember that state-owned enterprises have ever produced something of poor quality. If we have a complete mess on the market, we will have self-distilled vodka or other alcohol of poor quality produced in garages and sold on the market for cheap.

“Therefore, the state control will remain over alcohol and tobacco in the country,” the president said.