Dictator: Russia Is Envious of My Popularity

Lukashenka believes that this is why he is "sat by" in the Russian Federation.

Lukashenka has stated it at the today's "Big Talk" press-conference, Charter97.org informs.

"The topic of relations with Russia is very acute. I'd like to be careful not to commit myself. There are a lot of things that should be kept in secret.

But there are things you know. I studied at the Russian school near Smolensk, my mother was as milkmaid and a communist. As long as I am President, no stone will be thrown at a Russian. But Russia is a big country," the dictator said.

And there are a lot of different people in the government. It is bad that some things go contrary to the point of view of the President. It is no good.

Such aggravation occurs not for the first time. Russia has often turned to gas and oil issue and it happens again. Why do they strike the right note? Why do they grab by the throat?," the dictator noted when commenting on reduction on oil supplies.

"When our ministers arrive, they are ignored. This is a devil-may-care attitude. I said Putin: "If you treat our ministers this way, they will not arrive anymore. But nothing has changed, ministers had to wait," the dictator complained.

Then Lukashenka told in details the way leaders of Russia "cheat" him:

"Gas issue is still open. We have decided to pay $107, not $132. They demand to return $550 million.

I had a meeting with Putin, he asked to welcome Medvedev. I gave my promise. Medvedev arrives and brings the table on the situation regulation. They say, we will compensate for shortfalls in revenue from the budget. I say that I do not care how it will be done, money has no smell. Then I make a call to Putin and say that we have agreed. I was about to award Semashka. And then the story does not end.

When I met with the Patriarch we discussed the gas issue at 2 am. What do $500 million mean to Gazprom? Why do they behave this way? Is Gazprom better than the state?

I treat it as a mockery. I wrote Putin that we should not take this way. The closest friends start to quarrel."

Lukashenka stated that Belarus would survive without Russia — "I am sure about it, but if we take different ways, then it will take decades to build bridges again: both Putin and Lukashenka will not be in power then.

Why do they do this? My popularity is too obvious both for Russia and Belarus. It should be lowered. I do not lay claim to anything. No one in Russia will believe that Lukashenka is the enemy and your leadership will get its fingers burnt".