Ex-president of Belarus receives a monthly pension of approximately $0.2
Former Belarusian Leader Stanislav Shushkevich: From Power to Poverty
January saw a surprising visit from ex-Chairman of Belarus' Supreme Council (1991-1994), Stanislav Shushkevich, to the social protection department of Central District Minsk. His takeaway? A monthly stipend of $0.20, a far cry from his 1997 assigned lifetime pension of approximately $300.
You read that right; Shushkevich, once a key figure in post-Soviet Belarus, now struggles to make ends meet. His 1997 pension, worth a decent sum back then (around $300), has dwindled down to an amount barely sufficient to buy a loaf of bread. Inflation and devaluation have taken their toll, reducing it to a mere $0.20 today.
In 2010, disheartened by his plight, Shushkevich penned an appeal to Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky, Head of Administration Vladimir Makei, and Chairman of the Supreme Court Viktor Kamyukov, pleading for justice and a fair pension. Yet, help never came his way.
As he turns 80, Shushkevich humorously terms his situation "ridiculous." Earning a few bucks by lecturing at foreign universities, he remains a critical voice in Belarusian politics.
While the details of Shushkevich's current economic situation and historical purchasing power comparison remain unclear, one thing is certain - his fate starkly contrasts with the wealth and power he once held.
Bonus Fact: Post-Soviet transition years saw astronomical inflation rates in Belarus, averaging 244% annually (1992-1994), severely eroding the real value of pensions like Shushkevich's. Today, despite a lower inflation rate and minimal pension indexation, many retirees face financial hardships.
- Despite being a former Leader of Belarus, Stanislav Shushkevich, who served as Chairman of the Supreme Council (1991-1994), now receives a meager monthly pension of only $0.20, which is a far cry from his 1997 assigned lifetime pension worth around $300.
- In an attempt to obtain a fair pension, Shushkevich wrote an appeal to Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky, Head of Administration Vladimir Makei, and Chairman of the Supreme Court Viktor Kamyukov in 2010, but help never came his way.
- As he turns 80, Shushkevich humorously terms his situation "ridiculous," earning a few rubles by lecturing at foreign universities, yet he remains a critical voice in Belarusian politics and policy-and-legislation.
- Post-Soviet transition years in Belarus saw astronomical inflation rates, averaging 244% annually (1992-1994), severely eroding the real value of pensions like Shushkevich's, leaving many retirees today facing financial hardships.
