Lukashenko’s Inner Circle Profits from Russian Fishing Quotas

Although Belarus has no sea, for over two decades, Belarusian authorities have secured lucrative fishing quotas in Russia, turning the industry into a multimillion-dollar business controlled by President Alexander Lukashenko’s close associates.

The latest Buro investigation, supported by data provided by the Cyber-Partisans, reveals how the president’s inner circle, including his son Victor's son-in-law Dmitry Dyatlov, has benefited from this arrangement with ties to Russian elites.  

Dyatlov, married to Lukashenko’s granddaughter Viktoria, recently rose to a top management position at Marine Fisheries and Marine Seasons—two companies linked to a high-level business network that controls Belarus’ growing fish processing industry. His rapid ascent is emblematic of how Lukashenko’s family and close allies have monopolized strategic sectors of the economy with state support and access to preferential resources in Russia.  

Marine Seasons, established in 2022, is constructing a fish processing plant in Vitebsk with the help of state programs and a 240-million Belarusian ruble ($2.46 million) concessional loan. The company enjoys extensive tax and customs privileges while preparing to process pollock imported from Russia. The finished products will be sold in Belarus and other Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries.  

This success hinges on fishing quotas granted by the Russian government to Union Fishery Enterprises, a Vladivostok-based company co-owned by Belarusian businesswoman Lyudmila Neronskaya—closely tied to Lukashenko’s eldest son, Viktor. The company has received large quotas for pollock and herring in recent years, generating millions of dollars in potential revenue.  

In 2023 alone, Union Fishery Enterprises reported revenues exceeding $22 million, with profits exceeding $3.6 million. 

The Russian fishing industry is known for being tightly controlled by influential insiders, making it difficult for newcomers to enter. Union Fishery Enterprises, however, managed to secure substantial quotas shortly after its creation in 2022. The company’s success is attributed to connections with powerful Russian businessmen linked to President Vladimir Putin’s circle.  

While the Belarusian regime promotes imported fish as an affordable food option for its citizens, the profits from the business remain concentrated in the hands of a select few. For Dyatlov and others in Lukashenko’s orbit, the fishing business offers not only financial rewards but also a means to strengthen their power and influence in both Belarus and Russia.  

As Marine Seasons prepares to launch its fish processing plant in Vitebsk, the company plans to expand its product line to include fish dumplings and other semi-finished goods. Industry observers expect this business to grow rapidly, fueled by continued access to Russian fishing resources and generous state support.  

The story of Belarus’ fishing industry highlights the deepening connections between Belarusian and Russian elites, where economic opportunities are closely tied to political loyalties and family connections. For ordinary Belarusians, it means the fish they eat may come from Russian waters, but the profits stay with those closest to the regime.