Russian Duma deputies: “Lukashenka risks and can lose everything”

The State Duma representatives say that by exacerbating relations with Russia, the Belarusian leader can pass the point of no return.

In particular, this has been stated by first deputy chairman of the committee of the State Duma for the CIS and relations with Russian nationals abroad Konstantin Zatulin in an interview to RIA Novosti, when he commenting the recent actions of Minsk.

Over the recent weeks the relations between Belarus and Russia have worsened. First Lukashenka intensely reacted to statements of the head of the Russian Finance Ministry Alexei Kudrin about problems with Minsk’s gold and currency reserves, charging him with attempts to create a panic in the country.

Then, after the ban on import of some milk products from Belarus because of health reasons, the Belarusian delegation didn’t come to the CSTO summit to Moscow, explaining the move by “economic discrimination” by one of the CSTO member countries. Since today Minsk tightens border control on Belarusian-Russian border, highways and railroads.

Commenting on the actions of Belarusian top officials, Zatulin noted that “in general, Lukashenka is performing a rather risky maneuver”.

At the same time, by trying to deteriorate relations with Russia and thus “improve his image in the West”, Lukashenka hopes to derive some benefit both in the West and in the East, he deputy believes. He says that like the Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma, Lukashenka could lose everything by trying to please all.

Zatulin reminded that Lukashenka rose to power in 1994, when appeals to cooperate with Russia were very popular and very successful. “We have let that moment pass, when we could pin down Lukashenka to his word,” the deputy believes.

Zatulin does not exclude that Lukashenka saw himself as the leader of the “union state” in the future. Having understood that these plans are impracticable, “he is looking for a way to retain his power, without giving anything in return,” the deputy believes.

Zatulin has also noted that the development of the situation in this direction has caused Lukashenka’s complicated relations not only with Russia, but with the EU too.

The deputy believes that the ruler of Belarus is trying to look for pretexts for conflicts with Russia in order to please the West. “But if you want to launch a war, first assess your chances for victory,” the deputy noted.

Speaking about Lukashenka’s recent policies in general, Zatulin expressed an opinion that the Belarusian leader “is simply afraid of losing his power”.