How can politicians help injured Pinskers?

The death toll of the blast at a timber works in Pinsk has climbed to 14, with six more workers still remaining in serious condition in hospitals in Minsk and Brest. The Pinsk Eparchy teamed up with Pinsk City Hall and opened a special charity bank account. Politicians also decided to contribute.

Movement for Freedom activists on November 2 wired money to this bank account. The movement has continued raising money and plans to assist with medicines soon, Movement for Freedom leader Aliaksandr Milinkevich told ERB.

Aliaksandr Milinkevich: “Our movement's headquarters yesterday transferred the money. Our branches have continued raising funds across the country. It is very important, because those people will need money for medicines. We also plan to visit those people in hospitals and try to find out which medicines are needed”.

Potential presidential contender Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu has wired 3 million rubels to those injured in the blast. This amount is part of honorarium for his poetry book.

Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu: “This book of translations into Russian is titled Window. First, we wanted to open our own bank account, but it turned out to be not very easy. I decided to help with my own funds. We are still thinking what else could be done. Definitely, we will not stop”.

Pinsk Wood factory has pledged to pay 100 million rubels to every victim's family. The injured will receive 50 million each. People have already received part of this money.

Potential candidate Mikalai Statkevich will share his pension payments.

Mikalai Statkevich: “Personally, I will be able to make a donation. Frankly speaking, my donation will be from my military pension, between 50,000-100,000 rubels”.

The press office of the head of the state has no information whether Aliaksandr Lukashenka will offer any personal assistance apart from compensations from the national budget. In fact, staffers of the presidential press service were clearly embarrassed by our question: "From his own pocket? What do you mean? If he is going to, we will know it then".

Popular Front candidate Ryhor Kastusyou will raise the issue of assistance to the Pinsk blast victims at the next session of the party's leadership. There are people who share the pain and problems of the injured, said the politician.


Potential candidate Yaraslau Ramanchuk will discuss this issue during the next meeting of his campaign headquarters. He reckons that the issue of safety at enterprises should be addressed at the level of the state.

European Belarus activists are wiring money to the bank account for the injured privately. Andrei Sannikau's campaign headquarters see the victory in the upcoming election as the main goal in helping the whole country, European Belarus' spokesman Aliaksandr Atroshchankau said.

Activists of Belarusian Christian Democracy also are set to render assistance to the families of blast victims, potential candidate Vital Rymasheuski said.


The Brest region is observing mourning on November 3-4 for the victims of the blast at Pinsk Wood works.

Photo: http://ua.rian.ru