New issue of “Monday will reach Lukashenko”: the story of a pensioner from Shchuchinsky district

A cry for help from a pensioner from Shchuchinsky district became the reason for a high-profile trial in TikTok. An elderly couple was literally without a roof over their heads because of the unsuccessful choice of the company that had to fix the roof. The company did not perform the service, and the pensioner remained with a loan. Who will be held responsible for material damage? Are you ready to go to the bank? Did the roof eventually get repaired? Journalists of the acclaimed project “Monday will reach Lukashenko” again restored the chronology of events and brought the investigation to the end. From the roof of the sky is closer, but fall lower. Today's story with a lot of spilled water: tears of an elderly man, and empty promises with an overflow from empty to empty, and water that flooded the hostess' house in the agro-town of Balichi.

As a preface, I would like to remind everyone once again about the need to be very attentive to their elderly parents: they do not want to cause inconvenience to us and therefore they try to sort out complex issues themselves. As a result, both children and parents are now asking the president to look into the consequences.

The original appeal published in TikTok contained the following text:

- Dear Alexander Grigorievich! I come to you because this is my last hope. I work in a farm for a small salary. I have a seriously ill husband who is disabled after a stroke. In April 2025, we fell into a terrible trap: we signed a contract for roof repair with ErniStroy company represented by director Fokina Svetlana Sergeevna. To pay for the repair, we took out a huge loan. We never made a roof, we have a loan, we don’t have a roof – just fed promises. We went to court, a settlement was concluded. Fokina promised to return the money in three months. But she cheated again, ignored the court decision. Aleksandr Grigorievich, please take this case under your personal control. Help get an unscrupulous developer to return our money and answer the law!

How did an elderly couple from the Shchuchinsky district find themselves without a roof in the house for almost a year and a half? Who initiated the loan? Did you pay off the debt? And why sometimes a good heart leads to holes not only in the roof, but also in the purse? As always, we will deal with it in detail. The spring of 2025 in the Shchuchinsky district was rainy. The roof of the house Shanchuk in a dilapidated state: flows, flooding the kitchen. For efficiency and quality, pensioners apply to the company "ErniStroy", the announcement is found in the newspaper. The head of the company Svetlana Fokina comes for inspection. And here is the first detail: the company, as it turns out later, is not directly engaged in repairing roofs - it works on the principle of "buy-sell"

- An announcement about the repair of the roof was found in the local district newspaper Dzyannitsa. I called the phone listed in the advertisement. They came on the second day, measured the roof, said how much it will cost, says Natalia Shanchuk, who addressed the President in TikTok. Natalia Shanchuk agrees to only part of the roof - there is no money, the repair plans for credit. And again a “convenient” offer from Svetlana Fokina: she is a partner of Sberbank and can issue a loan without leaving the client to the branch. Natalia Shanchuk trusts, transfers passport data. It is issued a loan at 19 percent per annum for 5 years in the amount of 7160 rubles. She takes out a loan for the first time in her life. - We got a loan for 7160 rubles. They did so, because the husband after a stroke, sick, has a second disability group. There was no money, so I took a loan. And here it came to, – with regret in voice notes Natalia Shanchuk in an interview with a journalist.

The seasons changed, the winter snowfalls of 2026 replaced the rain, and there was no roof. Svetlana Fokina feeds customers breakfasts: she is busy with large orders, then there are no resources, then the brigade is in Moscow.

I called in May, June, July to come. They said that they had a faulty car, then referred to the fact that they had large orders in Russia. Then something with the guys came out, then she (Svetlana Fokina – approx. ed.) said that in September they will come, make us a roof. It was already the second September, and the roof is not, — emphasizes Natalia Shanchuk. The house floods, the walls rot, the ceiling covering, the exterior facade of the fireplace. The kitchen now needs major renovations. And Natalia is obliged to pay the loan, regardless of whether there is a roof over her head or not. - The wall is black. The son made to pull a film on top so that there were no holes in the ceiling. Water poured through the fireplace like a bucket. I come from work, and here everything is in the water, Natalia Shanchuk said with tears in her eyes, showing the consequences of what happened.

According to Oksana Sherementova, Director of the Customer Care Center of OJSC “Sber Bank” (Belarus), today you can take a loan from Sberbank Bank not only in the branch, but also online or through the bank’s partners:

- Specifically in this situation, the client issued a loan through our partner, ErniStroy. Initially, an employee of the partner company advised our client about the repair work that will be carried out as part of the roof replacement. Then, together with the client, I filled out a loan application. After the application was completed, a link came to the client’s personal mobile phone to familiarize himself with credit documents and all loan terms. Only after reading all the documents, the client confirmed his application for a loan using an individual SMS password. In order to get a loan, it is not necessary to come to the bank today. Further, the loan application is considered by the bank. And after its approval by the bank, money goes to the partner. That is, the bank is responsible for providing a loan, the partner is responsible for performing some services and works, and the client pays the bank a loan. As a result, Natalia Petrovna, along with her son, sues: patience has already run out. And here again it is indicative: twice Svetlana Fokina does not appear at the meeting, and for the third time connects via video link. The lawyer is asking for 18,000 rubles in compensation. In court, the defendant begins to feel emotional, asks for a settlement agreement, promises to voluntarily pay 7160 rubles and 1000 moral compensation in three stages. Natalia trusts for the second time and reduces the requirements from 18 000 to 8300 rubles. The proceedings are terminated, the arrest is removed from the account. But on time, the whole amount never comes.

Anastasia Kopt, Assistant Chairman of the Grodno Regional Court, commented to the journalist that the last deadline for the defendant to fulfill the contract expired on October 17, 2025, but the work was not performed:

In January 2026, the plaintiff sent a claim to the defendant, but received no response, in connection with which in March 2026 she appealed to the court for protection of her violated rights. In her statement of claim, the plaintiff asked to terminate the contract concluded with the defendant, to recover from the defendant 7160 rubles paid as advance payment under the contract, as well as a penalty for violation of the deadline for work in the amount of 10,238 rubles 80 kopecks. She also asked to recover from the defendant 1000 rubles in the amount of monetary compensation for moral damage and the cost of payment for legal assistance and postal correspondence.

According to Anastasia Kopt, during the court hearing, the parties announced their intention to conclude a settlement agreement.

By the decision of the court of the Shchuchinsky district on May 4, 2026, a settlement agreement was approved between the parties, according to which the defendant undertook to pay the debt in favor of the plaintiff in a total amount of 8400 rubles in equal shares: 2800 rubles in three stages no later than May 30, June 30 and July 30, 2026.

- Proceedings in the civil case were terminated, in connection with which the court canceled measures to secure the claim in the form of seizure of funds within the amount of the claim in the bank account of the defendant. At the conclusion of the settlement agreement, the court explained to the parties the terms of the settlement agreement, the obligation to fulfill them, as well as the consequences of these administrative actions. In connection with the violation of the terms of the settlement agreement, the plaintiff appealed to the court for the issuance of writs of execution, which were issued to her, said Anastasia Kopt, Assistant Chairman of the Grodno Regional Court.

Natalia Shanchuk drew attention to the fact that the funds provided for by the settlement agreement, Svetlana Fokina did not return, in connection with which she lived all winter in a house with a leaky roof.

- The fireplace leaked regularly, the whole kitchen was flooded. Then she (Svetlana Fokina) I started sending money in parts. Then the bailiffs gave me 2800 rubles on the card. And then she also gradually threw a thousand rubles on my card, then 250 rubles. When she tried to call her, she didn't pick up her phone, she dropped her calls. She said that she is in Russia, then she has no time, the woman noted. The roof is eventually made by the son - with money borrowed from neighbors and friends. Svetlana Fokina on the phone communicates rudely and threatens to declare the company bankrupt, so as not to pay off debts, which she, by the way, a lot. In a telephone conversation, Natalia Shanchuk, addressed to Svetlana Fokina, about when to wait for money, she replied, they say, wait.

- But when to wait? asked Natalia Shanchuk.

- You did not solve the problem with me, replied Svetlana Fokina.

Natalia Shanchuk voiced quite a logical question: how much can you solve the issue when the situation lasts for a year and a half.

- I will not have a dialogue with you. I don't want to have a dialogue with you. All, goodbye, said as cut off in a telephone conversation Svetlana Fokina.

Dmitry Shanchuk after a telephone conversation with his mother Natalia Shanchuk, who was witnessed by the film crew and who was on the air of the program, explained that Svetlana Fokina regularly practically demanded that their family not send documents to bailiffs and withdraw them. Svetlana promised to send money to the victim Natalia Shanchuk directly.

In a telephone conversation with a journalist, the entrepreneur, owner of ErniStroy LLC Svetlana Fokina reported other details and her version of what is happening:

- I don't remember, but there's not much left to pay. We're all paying quietly. So it's not that scary. And it would not be so terrible if it were not for the courts, which double, triple, or even quadruple these sums. I got pulled from all sides for no reason. Because the conflict is over? More than the contract was paid, moral compensation was paid.

Asked by a journalist why the roof was not repaired, Svetlana Fokina explained that the fault of everything ... the brigade, which was left alone and all this time abused alcohol.

- They came to her, saw what they needed for lumber. Yes, we had two brigades, one went to Russia and the other stayed. All season they only closed one roof for me and only because I stood over them day and night.

And she added that the purpose of the court hearings is supposedly to just rip it off (Svetlana Fokina). - Editor's note:

- I owed a man 2,500 rubles. The court ordered me to pay this client 10,900 rubles. I had to return 6500 rubles to the second client, the court gave me 13,000 rubles in my shoulders. Do you know what the amount is and how to pay it? How can I get that money out of circulation? I'm going into debt, because in any case, such amounts have to be covered. It’s not that we didn’t want to work. I’ve been working since 2021, and I’ve had a bunch of clients come to me for years. I have been working in this field for many years, but the team has let me down. This is a huge problem in people who work with their hands.

Speaking about the conflict with Natalia Shanchuk, the entrepreneur explained that she did not want to repay the loan, but wanted to get everything in cash, in connection with which a peace agreement was drawn up.

- We could initially agree and repay this money on a loan, even in parts. But she wanted to get cash, added Svetlana Fokina in a telephone conversation. As the Deputy Head of the Main Department of Justice - Head of the Department of Compulsory Enforcement of the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee Vitaly Brezitsky emphasized, in the process of working as a bailiff against a debtor of a legal entity, a set of measures aimed at early repayment of debt to the recoverer was taken:

Analysis of the debtor’s property status showed the absence of assets on the company’s balance sheet. In this regard, the bailiff additionally took security measures against the official of the debtor: he is limited in the right to drive vehicles, and the court limited his right to leave the Republic of Belarus. These priority measures work better than others because they directly affect everyday comfort, mobility, and business or work. A systematic approach, combining financial and property prohibitions, as well as personal restrictions, prompted the debtor to repay the debt to the claimant. Most of the debt has already been repaid. This story has a happy ending: a few days ago Svetlana Fokina returned the money to the family of Natalia Shanchuk. But this is just one of the points above and. The consequences of the flood in the house will have to be restored for a long time and, as you know, not for free. Loan Natalia Petrovna one way or another will have to pay. Why did you agree to a settlement and reduce the amount of compensation? I was sure that in this case they would not cheat. A sad story of ignorance and failed business. Let’s highlight a few rules: if you are not sure about something, be sure to consult with those who are more knowledgeable in the matter. Both deputies and local authorities work in the district, who can provide qualified assistance. Be sure to read the contract, but rather let the one who really understands it read it. Never give your passport data to anyone if you are not completely sure what you are doing, but rather go to the bank branch yourself. If you are deceived once, and deceived in the second, there is no doubt about it.

And Svetlana Fokina, although she threatened to declare the company bankrupt, now she also knows that she will have to answer for her actions, especially business ones, one way or another. And the question postscript: “What kind of help from the President was needed here?” Repeat the program see tomorrow, November 10, at 10:10 — and it will be at 19:30 on the “First information”. Do not miss, your voice will be heard, and it will definitely reach the addressee.