“Tagesspiegel”: Lukashenka is frustrating dictator

Russia is carrying out a media war against Alyaksandr Lukashenka, Der Tagesspiegel writes. And the dictator should be concerned about stability of his regime.

“The Belarusian opposition’s hope has revived; having been unable to withstand the regime for many years, not least because of its, it has suddenly received support from Moscow,” the author of the article Paul Flückiger writes. Moscow has waged a real war against the Belarusian dictator, having screened revelatory films about the Belarusian autocratic ruler at its two TV channels.

“Charges against the Belarusian ruler are not new,” the newspaper continues. Five years ago the presidential candidate Alyaksandr Kazulin told similar things during his pre-election speech at the Belarusian TV”. And he forfeited freedom for that, the author adds.

The closer the presidential election in Belarus is, the more intensive attacks of Moscow against its Western neighbor are. So far Lukashenka could always count on the customary tried-and-true system of the results rigging.

As the newspaper reminds, the problems between Minsk and Moscow started from a gas conflict in early June, continued with dispute over Belarus’ joining the Customs Union and reached their climax after on Lukashenka’s bidding an interview with Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili much hated by the Kremlin was demonstrated on the Belarusian TV as a response to Moscow’s media attack.

“So far the Kremlin tolerated all the rigged election results for lack of anything better,” the author writes, adding that now Moscow’s has patience snapped. The next step of the Kremlin was inviting 4 representatives of the Belarusian opposition. The journalist notes that the most provocative seems to be the visit of the former deputy minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Andrei Sannikov. Sannikov, who had taken the side of the opposition, is in favour of the country’s joining the EU and more close strategic partnership with Russia.