Ukrainians in Lebanon demonstrating against the Russian invasion of their country, Feb. 24, 2022. (Credit: Joseph Eid/AFP)
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On what is already being referred to as “one of Europe’s darkest days”, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine also dominated the Lebanese news cycle yesterday. Dozens of Ukrainian citizens gathered outside the Russian Embassy in Beirut yesterday to protest Russia's large-scale invasion of their country earlier that morning, the biggest attack by one European country on another since World War II. Meanwhile, Lebanese students living in Ukrainian villages are seeking to move to the country’s cities, a representative for Lebanese students in Ukraine told L’Orient-Le Jour yesterday. Reports circulating on social media suggested that some Lebanese in Ukraine are unable to reach the Lebanese Embassy, causing panic. In a statement, the Foreign Affairs Ministry announced a platform on which Lebanese citizens living in Ukraine can register if they wish to leave, adding that it’s in contact with ‘neighborly’ countries to secure safe passages and to facilitate the evacuation of the Lebanese residing there. The presidency shared on Twitter that President Aoun followed up with Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib on “the measures to be adopted to take care of the Lebanese in Ukraine.” Meanwhile, back in Lebanon, the large-scale invasion caused both tensions and solidarity among members of the Ukrainian and Russian diaspora. The Foreign Affairs Ministry tweeted yesterday evening that “Lebanon condemns the invasion of Ukrainian territory,” calling on Russia to “immediately stop military operations and withdraw its forces from it and to return to the logic of dialogue and negotiation.” Several Lebanese politicians shared their reactions to the unfolding events on Twitter. As for the political ramifications of this ongoing conflict, analysts and experts L’Orient Today spoke to said that they will most likely be felt in Lebanon second hand, as Russia remains a major player in both Syria and the Vienna talks over Iran’s nuclear program.
Russia’s attack on Ukraine sent oil prices skyrocketing, which could spell chaos for fuel dependent Lebanon. Oil prices surpassed $100 a barrel yesterday and reached a seven-year high. As Lebanon imports all of its fuel from overseas and has halted nearly all fuel subsidies, consumers are now completely at the mercy of global fuel prices. George Brax, spokesperson for the Syndicate of Gas Station Owners is convinced that Lebanon will see a rise in fuel prices, saying “we are going to exceed LL400,000 per 20 liters for sure.” Meanwhile, Mounir Bissat, a member of the board of directors of the Association of Lebanese Industrialists, warned that the increase of fuel prices worldwide will definitely be reflected in an increase in shipping costs and energy costs. The Russia-Ukraine crisis also pits Lebanon’s top two foreign sources of wheat against each other, but it remains to be seen what impact, if any, the crisis will have on Lebanon’s food supply.
Representatives from Alvarez & Marsal told President Aoun yesterday that they expect to conclude their evaluation of the data provided to it by the central bank by early next week. The firm in charge of the forensic audit of Lebanon’s central bank said it had completed a review of the data provided to it. On Monday, Parliament approved the extension of a law that lifts banking secrecy on public accounts, after it expired on Dec. 29. Reuters reported on Feb. 21 that contracts signed between the central bank and four commercial banks show the latter agreeing to pay three-eighths of 1 percent commission on purchases of government certificates of deposit worth millions of dollars without mentioning that the fees would be collected by Forry Associates, a company controlled by Raja Salameh, brother of Central Bank governor Riad Salameh.
Head of the Internal Security Forces, General Imad Othman, failed to appear at his hearing yesterday. Othman was scheduled to appear before Mount Lebanon Investigative Judge Nicolas Mansour yesterday, but did not, local TV channel LBCI reported. Mount Lebanon Public Prosecutor Judge Ghada Aoun had filed a complaint against Othman for ordering his security forces to prevent the arrest of central bank Gov. Riad Salameh, who was subpoenaed by Judge Aoun after he failed to appear for questioning in a lawsuit filed against him. According to LBCI, Judge Mansour has not set a date for a new hearing.
Saint Joseph University of Beirut students held a sit-in to protest a $250 “fresh dollars” hike in tuition fees. In a letter published last Wednesday, the university’s rector informed students that they would have to pay the supplementary fee in the second semester of the current academic year, asking those facing “real difficulties” to contact the university’s social services. Students at the sit-in in Sodeco, which was called for by the university’s secular club, showed their dissatisfaction with the rectorate’s decision amid the country’s currency hyperinflation and drastic loss of purchasing power. Reports of riot police deployment at the protest circulated on social media.
In case you missed it, here’s our must-read story from yesterday: “Russian invasion of Ukraine stirs both tensions and solidarity among Lebanon's Ukrainian and Russian diaspora”
Correction: An earlier version of this post said that the forensic audit of the central bank is near completion. The auditors' evaluation of the data provided to it is near completion, not the audit itself.