The Myth Has Been Debunked

• 3.11.2026, 8:39

What's Behind the News That Belarus Is Purchasing Flax Fiber from Russia.

Lukashenko never tires of recounting how he saved agriculture from certain collapse. His subordinates and the propaganda machine echo his claims.

For example, the head of Lukashenko’s administration Dmitry Krutoy, who year after year peddles myths about a real breakthrough in the agricultural sector, thanks to which Belarus ranks among either the top five or top ten global exporters, writes “Solidarnast”.

But news from the real world is increasingly emerging that contradicts the officials’ fantasies. For example, according to data from the “Agroexport” agency of the Russian Ministry of Agriculture, Belarus imported 982 metric tons of flax fiber from Russia between January and September.

Yes, at first glance, the volume of purchases doesn’t seem particularly impressive. But behind this news lie figures of a different order of magnitude.

The government has been “rescuing” the flax industry for about 30 years. Over the years, government programs have been implemented, and over $200 million has been spent on modernizing the Orsha Flax Processing Plant alone…

And in the end, Lukashenko has to stage spectacles for his subordinates in fields of rotting flax, increasingly holding up a private entrepreneur as an example. For some reason, this private entrepreneur manages to grow potatoes much better, store apples until spring, and keep livestock from dying off on a historic scale.