In Belarus, Some Workers Sent to Military Drills Instead of Harvest Duty, Column Says
An opinion column on LSM's Russian-language site compares grain harvesting in Latvia and Belarus, noting that this year's Belarusian harvest campaign is tied less to fieldwork than to military musters and reports to the "chief agronomist."
LSM's Russian-language edition has published an opinion column titled "Думкі беларуса" ("A Belarusian's Thoughts") in its "Point of View" section. The author, of Belarusian origin, reflects on the grain harvest season in both Latvia and their native Belarus.
The author writes of a strong fondness for Latvian rye bread, which they eat with soup, pasta and potatoes, as well as alongside canned sprats. Because of this culinary attachment, the author closely follows Latvia's grain harvest, particularly after the country's recent bad weather.
A different picture in Belarus
Alongside developments in Latvia, the author also monitors the harvest campaign in Belarus, but describes the process there as fundamentally different. According to the column, the Belarusian harvest is not organized to ensure food security for the population. Instead, the traditional end-of-harvest celebration known as "dozhinki" is turned into a kind of parade, during which reports are delivered to what the author calls the "chief agronomist" — a reference to the country's top leadership.
The column's headline indicates that some people who would normally be expected to operate combine harvesters during this period are instead being sent to military musters in Belarus this year, suggesting that part of the workforce is being redirected from fieldwork toward military purposes.
