29 March 2024, Friday, 9:59
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"Secret" Operation Failed

39
"Secret" Operation Failed

The last dictator of Europe is not needed.

The long-awaited victory was already on the threshold. It seemed to him that the time of revenge was coming. He was invited to Brussels. Officially. At the summit of the Eastern Partnership. It's not just a meeting. It's the event in the current situation. It would mean that all previous sanctions, all bans on entry, all other humiliations did not bother. He receives a complete remission of sins. And enters Europe riding a white horse.

The regime drums rattled on and on. There was blare of the trumpets. Companions expressed infinite devotion and usual eagerness. What a breakthrough! The way to the West is open again. And those who stand next to the leader will follow him. One by one and by cheerful groups. And then it will promote investments to the country followed by long-awaited kick-back schemes. Life was a success.

And all of a sudden a black Tuesday came. When everything was ready for departure, it was a shock: no one is waiting on the ruler in Brussels. How is it possible? That invitation did exist! There were signals. Sigmar Gabriel, Vice-Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, visited Minsk. In previous years, when the ruler was in disgrace, who would dare himself such a visit. And here the official meeting took place. And when welcoming the high guest, he even shared his simple dictatorial joy: "I do hope and I am confident that we are opening the better new page in our relations."

It was said clumsily but sincerely. A well-known European politician sits in front of him. And they are both not just interlocutors, but almost partners. A common business, common concerns about the security of the continent. A few more such meetings, and the ruler will solve the pressing problems of Europe on an equal footing with those who have recently imposed sanctions on him.

However, the Vice-Chancellor did not show any enthusiasm for some reason. And the spirited speech about a new page, for some reason directed somewhere to the side, was met with a restrained remark about a "cautious rapprochement" of the two countries. What are you talking about! And what is the reason for this cold alienation and more than neutral language. And no promises. No hope. And not a word about the main thing!

What happened? Lobbyists worked hard and carefully in European structures seeking an indulgence for the dictator. Yes, he was wrong. Can be rude sometimes. But he is not an alien despite all the sins. He needs a little bit of assistance, financial support, integration into pan-European projects and he can turn into a more or less good politician in the course of time. And the maing thing, he is a peace-maker in his heart. Where did the meeting in the format of the Norman Quartet take place? Where was a ceasefire agreement on eastern Ukraine signed? In Minsk! So why don't them cooperate?

It is possible that in such inconspicuous conversations, a legend about a new, moderately democratic image of a harsh dictator was being formed. And it almost succeeded. But not in all aspects. The trick failed.

At first glance, it seems to be as simple as ABC. Absence of invitation is not a trouble! But that was the invitation to the circle of those having the legitimate power. And here he does not fit. Of course, there will be a lot of talks there that he himself did not go, because of problems with flax harvesting, and he is the one to solve them. And there will certainly be desperate attempts at revenge. Apparently, with the same result. It seems that dictators are old-fashioned.

Once it seemed to him that it was easy to run the country. It is only necessary to show more impudence, cynicism, ferocity and you can relax in your chair until the last day. To tell lies. To be on the dodge. To divide citizens into 'friends' and 'foes'. To open a file on all dissenters. To put them in prison, to suppress with exorbitant fines, to expel from the country without the right to return. And to yell at all crossroads that we have more democracy than in all of Europe. Someone will sooner or later believe it.

But it suddenly turned out that all the terror is not forgotten. And the quantity, indeed, goes into quality. In the very quality that determines the essence of the regime and its restless mastermind.

When this impudent visit to Brussels emerged, the opposition leaders turned to prominent European politicians and reminded them of the hand they would have to shake if this breakthrough took place. And suddenly it turned out that his merits are not forgotten. The names of Belarusian politicians are known. And the ways of electoral fraud are recorded. To say nothing of an endless cases with political prisoners. There was no person found to talk to him. Good neighborly handshakes are not foreseeable even in the future. And his appearance at the summit would be utterly inappropriate.

The story, in fact, is sad. The 'secret' operation failed. All efforts were in vain. The triumphal takeoff did not take place. Hopes for a decisive change in status were not justified. The ruler remained a mediocre politician of the collective farm call. Or just a loser. With corresponding perspectives. The end is quite predictable.

And there were some changes considering only one thing. He was once called the last dictator of Europe. After all trouble, he is just the last. On the road the obstinate companion Mugabe falls into oblivion.

Uladzimir Khalip for Charter97.org

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