Lukashenko Has A Serious Enemy In Moscow

Who is "denouncing" him to Putin?

In a recent interview, the ruler of Belarus touched upon a topic that is painful for him in passing, writes "Salidarnasts". Who are those enemies who "denounce" Putin on Lukashenko?

"Putin may have some doubts"

Commenting to journalist Simon Shuster on the intensification of dialogue between Belarus and the United States, Lukashenko said about criticism from Russia:

- Allegedly, we have returned to some policy of multi-vectorism. Even we are criticized for this, they themselves pursue a multi-vector policy, but we are not allowed to. But this is one group of people, although there is a solid institution at the head of this group.

- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs? - Schuster clarified.

- No, not a ministry, an institute. One institute, and they prepare this mess and send it to the administration, to the Foreign Ministry, maybe somewhere else. I will talk to Vladimir Vladimirovich about this, it's one group of people...

- But he, you have a feeling that there is some concern, that maybe he advises you, for example: don't communicate so actively with these Americans.

- No, there was no such thing, but knowing Vladimir Vladimirovich's character, I know that he is an absolutely sober person in assessing the situation. He may have some doubts. But he has never mentioned it to me. Never. But I admit that maybe, maybe.

Lukashenko added: "It's unpleasant, of course, frankly speaking, if someone in Russia thinks and writes like that."

In connection with this complaint of the ruler of Belarus, one can recall the situation of late April this year, when during a conversation in Volgograd, Lukashenko suddenly began to justify himself about the St. George ribbons, the use of which the Belarusian authorities do not encourage.

A few days later, the ruler made it clear that someone "snitched" on him to Putin:

- What surprised me, he (Putin - ed.) said: "Listen, tell me what's the matter." I said, "I thought it was coming from you." - No, this is the first time I've heard it.

It is obvious that some force, a "solid institute," really opposes Lukashenko and sends its reports to the Russian leadership. Who could it be? "Salidarnasts" names suspect No. 1.

Lukashenko's opponents in Moscow

On the web, one can find that the "Belarus Department of the Institute of CIS Countries" has criticized Lukashenko for many years, including for rejecting the symbols of the "Russian world." Here is a typical headline: "Authorities of the Republic of Belarus against the St. George Ribbon and the Immortal Regiment".

Now let's understand what the Institute of CIS countries is. It was established in 1996, the full list of founders is not named, but among them were the Russian Academy of Sciences and MGIMO of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. The main users of the Institute's reports include the State Duma, the Federation Council, the Foreign Ministry, the Security Council and the Russian Presidential Administration.

The Institute's management and staff are outspoken imperialists and supporters of the "Russian World." The director of the institution, Konstantin Zatulin, is known for his rather harsh criticism of Lukashenko and attempts to pressure him.

In 2019, Zatulin said that anti-Russian sentiments are noticeable in the behavior of the Belarusian authorities: "(Lukashenko) publicly opposes the concept of the Russian World, rejects the 'Immortal Regiment' under the pretext of jealousy of authorship."

In October 2022, Zatulin said that the fate of Lukashenko and Belarus is linked to the course of the "SWO" in Ukraine:

- Because we and Belarus are in the same boat. And he (Lukashenko) was in it even earlier than we were, taking into account what happened in the 2020 elections. And based on this, it seems to me, we can assume the strengthening of interaction.

It is interesting that in 2012 Lukashenko received Zatulin in Minsk, but later he did not give him such an honor.

The subordinates of the director of the Institute of CIS countries are even more unbridled in their statements and assessments of the activities of the ruler of Belarus.

The deputy head of the Institute Vladimir Zharikhin, commenting on the relations between Belarus and Russia, compared Lukashenko to a wife, who depends entirely on her husband, but does whatever comes into her head.

As mentioned above, the Institute of CIS countries has a separate "Belarus Department". It is headed by Alexander Fadeev, a former employee of the editorial office of VGTRK news programs.

He also criticizes Lukashenko. Fadeyev noted that Belarus "actually froze the creation of the Union State in 2002." And he said, "As for the political contradictions between Moscow and Minsk, they concern the international aspect, where Belarus does not fulfill its allied obligations - this is a problem, and it causes a negative reaction. And there cannot be any other reaction in the Kremlin here."

Fadeyev's subordinate is the odious Yuri Baranchik, a senior researcher at the department and editor-in-chief of the propaganda agency Regnum.

He also criticizes Lukashenko for slow integration with Russia. Moreover, the native of Belarus, who moved to Moscow for work, claimed that in case of a referendum, citizens of our country would allegedly jubilantly support joining the Russian Federation. In fact, his entire argument was that Belarusians would allegedly be tempted by higher "Russian salaries."

In 2017, during the "Regnum case," Baranchik was detained in Moscow at Minsk's request, but was released three days later. His three colleagues in Belarus were less lucky: they spent about a year behind bars.

In Minsk, there is also a "representative of the Institute of CIS countries in Belarus," Nikolai Sergeev, a former employee of the Belteleradiocompany. He understandably does not criticize Lukashenko for his slow integration with the Russian Federation, but popularizes the ideas of the "Russian world." Last year Sergeev suggested creating a textbook "on the history of the united Fatherland."

Lukashenko's mistake

Other employees of the Institute of CIS countries also criticize the Belarusian authorities for the insufficient level of pro-Russianism and loyalty. For example, recently the head of the Department of Ukraine Ivan Skorikov accused "deputy" and historian Igor Marzalyuk of spreading fakes and demonstratively refusing to wear the St. George ribbon.

In general, it can be stated that despite the name and the list of founders, the Institute of CIS countries is clearly a pseudoscientific institution. It is a blatant propaganda resource in the hands of the Russian leadership.

The statements of the Institute's representatives and their reports are vivid evidence of one of Lukashenko's main political mistakes. All his life he has been trying to be closer to Russia, hoping for gratitude and reward. But the reaction in Moscow is quite different: there they see weakness in the voluntary refusal from full independence and want to achieve even greater submission.

You can support the website Charter97.org

MULTI-CURRENCY ACCOUNT FOR ASSISTANCE:

Bank's name: Bank Millennium S.A.
Address: ul. Stanislawa Zaryna, 2A, 02-593, Warszawa
IBAN: PL97116022020000000216711123
SWIFT: BIGBPLPW
Name of the account holder: Fundacja “KARTA ‘97”
Purpose/title of payment: Donation for statuary aims

You can contact us by the e-mail [email protected]