Mikalai Statkevich: Russia Is Growing Poorer And Has Become Radicalized And Wants To Take Control Of Belarus

According to BNC leader, Russia is seeking for more control over Belarus.

Opposition leader Mikalai Statkevich said that Russia was introducing the border zone with Belarus in order to change Lukashenka’s image in Russia, where Belarus is considered its closest ally.

He said that in an interview to TSN.ua.

For example, the decision of Belarus to allow a 5-day no-visa entry for citizens of 80 countries is supposed to be a reason for the introducing of the "border zone" by Russia. It followed that they could easily go to Russia.

"Well, foreigners can visit and stay in Vladivostok without a visa for 8 days, what's the problem? But they [the Russian authorities] use this factor in order to demonstrate the following: there is risk over there, the West has been set going, Obama will come, we must urgently set up a border. This has been done in order to present Lukashenka less friendly to Russia. Even dangerous to some extent. They want to lessen his influence on the Russian society and to have a free hand," – Statkevich said.

According to him, now the situation has changed and Russia is seeking for more control over Belarus.

"Well, they could meet their ally halfway. But the ally has to toe the crack. Now Russia starts a war, in fact, it’s a cold war with the West, reportedly with Ukraine as well, and it needs the support of Belarus. Lukashenka has refused to deploy Russian air base. Obviously, Russia was eager to place that ground troops base," – the oppositionist said.

"The Belarusian economy is a branch of the Russian one. Lukashenka has built it so. In fact, they are manually operated. It is an economy, which does not generate profits, it creates only losses. Someone has to pay the difference. Russia pays, and there is a full dependence on Russia. Lukashenka does not want to change anything in that, and he's said that at his press conference because this huge economic collective farm helps him to implement a highly effective political control, which works on-the-spot – you are not loyal, you lose your job, you have nothing to live for. Either you turn into a marginal or leave the country. Very effective. But now the situation has changed. Russia is growing poorer and has become radicalized. It is fighting a war. It might give less money," – Statkevich said.

We remind that the border zone was established at the Belarusian-Russian border. According to reports, it happened due to three orders, signed by the Russian Federal Security Service Director Alexander Bortnikov.