The article ws first published in Ukrainian at CACD by Volodymyr Kopchak.
Europeanization of Lukashenka became possible thanks to Kiev, which systematically and consistently tolerated all this farce…
Having detained the Ukrainian journalist Pavel Sharoiko in Minsk, Lukashenka’s regime has passed the last line. For the Ukrainian side, this act should look like a point of no return, at least at the current historical stage of relations between Kiev and Minsk. And here are the reasons.
… Legends have been molded around Lukashenka for almost a dozen years already, about his ability to have a foot in both camps defending the interests of the country. One of the goals of the Belarusian court myth-makers was and still remains to create the image of the permanent Belarusian leader as an independent politician – in other words, to disguise his complete vassal dependence on the Kremlin regime. And in the last few years there has been a new trend in the mythologization of Lukashenka, according to which his regime can look more or less decent in the eyes of the world democratic community, albeit not yet European, but with positive cosmetic shifts in the “right” direction. With quiet hints that Minsk believes in “life without Putin” or “life after Putin…”
It should be admitted, though, that Minsk managed to achieve certain successes on the European arena, and not only in the field of image-making. Foreign Minister Uladzimir Makey became handshakeable in Europe. Among other things, the EU lifted sanctions from Minsk due to such issues as (!) Liberalism in domestic politics and human rights.
From the latest news: for example, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, who paid a visit to Minsk and met with Lukashenka, expressed the real pleasure in this regard. And for the first time in many years, Lukashenka was even invited to take part in the EU Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels on November 24. At the same time, the head of the Foreign Ministry of Belarus, Makei finds excuses for the Kremlin – “our rapprochement with the EU has no threat to Russia…”
It would seem that one can only be glad for the neighbors. If not for one “but.” All these wins over sanctions were possible, among other things, thanks to speculations on the Russian aggression against Ukraine at international “auctions.” Until recently, Minsk played an unconvincing, but quite effective role-play, demonstrating, on the one hand, its commitment to “allied” geopolitical obligations to Moscow, and, on the other hand, demonstrating its “allied” neutrality, interest in trade and willingness to become a peace bridge for settlement of the confrontation in Donbass to Ukraine. As for the Crimea, it follows the Kremlin fairway making blasphemous signals to Kiev at different levels – “treat this with understanding.” So, the Europeanization of Lukashenka became possible thanks to Kiev, which systematically and consistently tolerated all this farce.
The farce, which has become grotesque after the arrest of Sharoiko in Minsk, finally fixing the sign of equality between Belarus and regime of Putin.
It was naive to hope that the Kremlin would tolerate Lukashenka’s pro-European or pro-Ukrainian hesitations for a long time. Moscow has been systematically sending unambiguous signals to Minsk, from which one can distinguish the following:
– Forcing the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Belarus to introduce the separatist quasi-state formation on the territory of Belarus – Veyshnoria, – in the legend of the joint exercises West-2017 as the main enemy of the Union State of Minsk and Moscow; a number of other overt provocations and demonstrations of superiority during the exercises – from non-arrival (for the first time in the history of the exercises) of Defense Minister Shoigu to Belarus, to the drilling of management and operational subordination of the Armed Forces of Belarus, while excluding “Lukashenka’s headquarters” from the managerial level.
– Carrying out the audacious night rally of the pro-Putin National Liberation Movement (NOD) on the streets of Minsk, which posters depicted Belarus annexed to Russia, and during which photographs of Putin became the guarantee of inviolability – there was no reaction from the Belarusian security forces or law enforcers (even despite the signals from outraged local citizens – “there was no command from above”). All this was done, we will remind, in Belarus – try to shout something in Minsk at night in a state of intoxication, or try to drive around the capital with the Pahonia…
– The daring abduction of Ukrainian citizen Pavel Grib by Russian special services in Homel and his export to Russia with wild accusations of terrorism (indicative distancing of Minsk from the situation with Belarusian Foreign Ministry’s mocking comments in response to the requests of Kiev).
And now we have the arrest of journalist Sharoiko who is charged of espionage – the standard procedure of the Russian FSB, conducted by the local KGB. And the release of information on the detention occurs in unison with the proposal of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry to place Belarusian peacekeepers in the Donbass. This escapade of Minsk looks like cynicism taking into consideration the cardinal divergence of Ukrainian / Western and the Kremlin’s positions on the peacekeeping mission (in particular, absence of any agreements between the negotiators Volker-Surkov). This is exactly how Kyiv should treat it, as well as other “constructive” initiatives.
The Kremlin could easily “break” the desire of the regime in Minsk to get closer to the Europe, if desired. For example, the next imposition of a milk embargo on Belarus for several months can become an irreparable blow to the Belarusian collective farms, focused exclusively on the Russian market. Belarusians remember well that during the last such embargo news about the problems of the collective farms resembled reports from a war. However, in this case, Lukashenka would look like a victim in the eyes of the West, and this is not what Moscow needs. What is important for the Kremlin here is to completely smear the Lukashenka’s regime – tyranny, detention of journalists, a completely pro-Kremlin stance on Ukraine, a completely spoiled relationship with the latter.
I really want to be wrong, but there are reasons to believe that journalist Sharoiko’s fate will be determined in Moscow as part of a certain Kremlin’s scenario, just like the fates of dozens of Kremlin’s political prisoners. And Lukashenka’s chances to leave a personal stamp on the matter are slight.
Adequate Belarusian experts, who against all the odds survived in this reserve of insanity, repeatedly made comments like: “Lukashenka knows everything, it annoys him (especially what concerns Grib), he’s being screwed over, it’s just a collapse of the power system block.” Similar things will probably be said about the situation with Sharoiko. However, what difference does it make for Ukraine? What difference does it make for us – it was all sanctioned by Lukashenka, performed by the Russian FSB on their own or by their branch represented by the Belarusian KGB, which is beyond the control of the long-standing local ruler?
Consequently, the Minsk current regime deserves zero tolerance from Kiev, which is to result into a hard-line policy towards Belarus in all directions – in the security, economic, information, diplomatic spheres, with raising the issue of setting sanctions similar to those used against Russia as a country-aggressor.
One day Minsk will realize that one cannot be half pregnant when hold in vassalage from the Kremlin. Ukrainians managed to get rid of their own leader, who thought that it is possible. He now lives on Rublyovka, his family despises him, as well as the former Motherland and the Kremlin curators who have to put up with him just “by the rules.” He is despised by the whole world. So why do we care for the fate of a ruler who has every chance of becoming his copy?
The discussions, which appear to be a representative result of Lukashenka’s regime being a Kremlin’s rubber stamp for a long time, emerged recently in the Belarusian society: “if Russia starts the occupation of Belarus – would it be worth fighting for Lukashenka?” Not for the Motherland, but for Lukashenka…
And here it turns out that even Robert Mugabe can be dismissed “in a second”…
Volodymyr Kopchak, Center for Army Conversion and Disarmament Studies
