Venediktov: Lukashenka No Longer To Wear Two Hats

Editor-in-Chief of the radio-station “Echo of Moscow” Alexey Venediktov has commented upon the restoration of the border zone checkpoints at the border between Belarus and Russia.

The “Echo of Moscow” informs this.

Venediktov has clarified that the return of the border from the Belarusian side was announced back in September 2014 by Lukashenka himself, in connection with the events in Ukraine. At the same time, the journalist didn’t assess the state leader’s actions as an attempt to give up the relations with Russia in favour of Europe.

“I think it’s just our hat is getting too loose and he is about to lose it. Meanwhile, he wants to continue wearing two hats and have relations…”, — Venediktov has stated.

According to him, Lukashenka understands that Belarus can be absorbed by Russia economically and politically, and therefore keeps an eye on the neighbor when making moves to the West. His main task is to prove the sovereignty of Belarus and avoid risks in the energy sector, to avoid becoming a part of the Russian Federation.

Apart from that, the Belarusian dictator is striving not to repeat the history of Ukraine and the East of Ukraine, given that his country remains in the interests of Russia, and there are Russian troops. Venediktov called Lukashenka "a cunning man," and noted that he seems bothered with the Russian policy of collecting land. That is why he holds negotiations with the West and announces visa-free entry for citizens of a number of European countries.

"The stability of the Belarusian economy (and it is stable indeed) is based, naturally, in the first place, on the bonuses and allowances that Byelorussia… Belarus – I didn’t mean to offend our Belarusian audience, I am used to call it like this – to which extent Belarus is based exactly on the benefits, discounts and transit which Russia provides for the energy resources,” — the journalist has commented on the abilities of Moscow to “crush” Minsk.