A substitute found to Lord Bell?

New British citizens are looming in the field of creating Belarus’ positive public image.

London-based INSTID (Institute for State Ideologies) is in negotiations with the government of Belarus regarding a contract on forming an image of the country, the BelaPAN was told by a senior expert of the institute, British political scientist Nataliya Leshchenko.

The expert noted that a full-fledged contract is not in question, as the Belarusian authorities have become more careful about contracts of such kind with foreigners. “We are offering not PR services, not publishing materials in mass media, but the things which lord Bell was really lacking in his work: to create a model of Belarus’ image and a long-term strategy of the country’s promotion in the West,” Leshchenko said.

The representative of London institute noted that Lukashenka’s administration says that both local and foreign experts, and possibly to create a standing mixed commission which would deal with issues of Belarus’ image in the world arena.

As said by Leshchenko, she is a Belarusian herself, and she is one of the three Belarusian political scientists known in the West, and the only expert in the sphere of Belarusian nationalism. Her thesis is dedicated to this topic.

“Experts inside the country are needed too, but we would be helpful not only because we have a good knowledge in issues of ideology. We know how the Western society works, and what could be achieved with the help of reputational management. Experts would suggest how to get across one’s point of view,” the political scientist said.

We remind that in August the Belarusian authorities and British PR agency Bell Pottinger Group, organized by Lord Timothy Bell, stopped cooperation.

An expert in political branding and public communications, partner in Stonewell London Limited company (London) Alexander Grand said that London-based INSTID (Institute for State Ideologies) took an active part in the discussion which flared up in mass media after “dismissal” of Bell Pottinger. The institute is known by its unconventional approaches and internationally recognized experts. It could be said that they had initiated this discussion, by voicing sharp criticism of Bell’s position, and offering Lukashenka a do-it-yourself approach. However it is strange to see that the research centre mostly known in the West and not spotted in political games in the CIS, is so vividly interested in issues of the image of Belarus. There were rumors that the leadership of the country is interested by the activities of the institute. It is known that the head of the institute Alexander Fedulin visited Minsk not long before the contract with Bell Pottinger expired, and after that Belarusian mass media were immediately flooded with comments of the institute’s experts.

We remind that a probation period the European Union gave to the Belarusian authorities expires in November. Depending on the democracy situation in Belarus, it will be decided in November whether the EU sanctions on the Belarusian regime to be prolonged or lifted. The Belarusian authorities should release political prisoners, stop repressions against opposition, give freedom to the mass media and NGOs, change the Electoral Code to carry out free and democratic elections in the country. None of these conditions has been fulfilled so far.