Quote Originally Posted by Hanna View Post

Are there oligarchs in Belarus, or not?

I can report from Belarus (I am currently there!) that as far as I can see, Gomel is in a very good shape.

Everything is in good state of repair. Additionally, this might be the safest country in Europe (unless you are a political dissident...) Plenty of shops, restaurants, cafes etc. Things are in better shape than Ukraine (outside of central Kiev) and certainly than Moldova.

No beggars or super-poor babushkas like I saw in Ukraine - older people look much better off.
Hanna, I'd really like you (sure if that's possible) to take a trip deep in the country (somewhere far from big cities) and report on what you see there. That's what's gonna be really interesting to know as in cities they're obviously gonna try everything they can to make you think life there is a paradise...