Belarusian Ministry of Statistics is no longer controlled by government

The Belarusian Ministry of Statistics and Analysis has been turned into the National Statistic Committee and will be controlled by the President instead of the government. The decree was signed by Alyaksandr Lukashenka and it will come into power a month after its official publication. BelTA notes that the state statistic institution will not be controlled by the government and will become “totally independent in its professional activities” due to the terms of the European Code of Statistic Practice.

The change of status has not changed the tasks and functions of the Ministry of Statistics but it may make the official statistics more trustworthy.