Belarusian rouble

Russian Subsidies Are Not Enough: Belarus Seeks a New IMF Loan

Later this month Belarusian authorities plan to negotiate with the IMF a new $3.8bn loan to refinance its existing debt to the organization. With generous subsidies from Russia, the government managed to stabilize the situation in the Belarusian economy...

3 February 2012

How to Survive on $200 Dollars a Month

Although prices in Belarus are as high as in any European country, salaries are very low. The average monthly income is around USD 200, but people still manage to buy food, flats and smart phones. How is it possible to...

31 December 2011

Top Ten Stories on Belarus Digest in 2011

Belarus Digest compiled a list of most read articles in 2011 and wishes you a Happy New Year! 1. Cheap Booze For The People Of Belarus. As the economic crisis deepens prices on nearly all products rise sharply in Belarus with...

16 November 2011

Belarus-Russia: Optimistic Rhetoric and Unsolvable Contradictions

Last month Vladimir Putin published an article dedicated to the integration of the post-Soviet space in a major Russian daily, Izvestiya. Among other things, Putin underscored that Russia does not propose to restore the Soviet Union. However, he noted that...

24 August 2011

No Belarusian Roubles Please

If you are in Belarus and only have Belarusian roubles to pay for your ticket – be prepared to stay in the country a bit longer. AirBaltic and some other companies operating in Belarus no longer accept Belarusian roubles. Instead...

14 May 2011

Belarus Authorities Combat Economic Crises on the Ideological Front

The Belarus authorities seem to be combating the economic crises on two fronts. On the economic policy front, they promise modernization and reforms. On the ideological front, they initiated closing down two leading independent newspapers and instructed state media...

31 March 2011

Is Belarus on the Brink of Financial Collapse?

The National Bank of the Republic of Belarus has recently started devaluation of the Belarusian ruble. Foreign currency is now officially allowed to be traded at an exchange rate that is deviating as much as 10 percent from the...