Andrei Sannikov: Lukashenka Signed Capitulation On All Fronts

Only a change of regime will lead to real development in Belarus.

After meetings with Lukashenka in Sochi, Putin appointed a new ambassador and his special envoy in Belarus, Mikhail Babich. Earlier, the media reported on the preparation of this appointment, as well as on the fact that the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not received a request for agrement to Babich’s candidacy.

The leader of the European Belarus civil campaign, presidential candidate of Belarus in the 2010 elections, Andrei Sannikov, has commented on the situation to Charter97.org.

– How would you comment on this appointment – after behind-the-scenes negotiations, without journalists and against the backdrop of the fact that the Ministry denies the prior approval of the request for agrement?

– I fully admit that there was no request for agrement. As it’s hardly possible to call the Russian embassy in Belarus and the Belarusian embassy in Russia diplomatic missions. They deal with anything, but the diplomacy. Therefore, a common practice was at work when two dictators arrived at an agreement without any formalities, without even observing the decencies.

In this case, the agreement was not even "mutual". They just appointed Babich and said in the form of order: here, he will be an ambassador – and that's it.

This is a rather humiliating situation for Belarus, but Lukashenka has, probably, got used to that.

– Babich has served in the Airborne Forces and the KGB. From November 2002 to February 2003, he was chairman of Chechnya’s government. In 2016, he was appointed ambassador to Ukraine, but Kiev refused to agree on his candidacy. What does the appointment of a person with such a service record mean for Belarus?

– This military-KGB pattern has long been developing and is clearly seen in these representational bodies of the two states.

If we continue the logical line that these are not consulates, but some kinds of subsections of the two criminal regimes, it turns out that they have sent us an "enforcer." Some bandits from the Kremlin have sent to Minsk an "enforcer," who, probably, will come with some assignment, which might be not quite suitable for dictator Lukashenka.

The economic situation, in which Lukashenka has driven the country, is becoming more complex, and Russia, of course, will use this. First of all, it will strengthen its presence in all the regions of Belarus, in order to seize all the property left in our country.

– Have there been any examples of combining the posts of ambassador and special representative? What will this mean for our country in practical terms?

– Tо begin with, all the ambassadors of Russia to Ukraine and of Ukraine to Russia were simultaneously special representatives of the heads of state. There has never been such a practice in Belarus yet – and it comes under notice. As well as the fact that Lukashenka immediately dismissed the ambassador to Russia, Ihar Piatryshenka, having given him a post in the government. So, now he is thinking about a "backlash."

But, again, this has nothing to do with the diplomacy. This has something to do with the criminal schemes, which the representations of these criminal regimes are in charge with. Their disposition is confirmed by incidents in different parts of the world – for example, the discovery of cocaine in the diplomatic mail of the Russian Federation in Argentina. I think that criminal structures use these so-called "embassies" to "cover" all sorts of dirty schemes. The same thing happens under the roof of the Russian embassy in Belarus – I'm sure of it.

The fact of Babich being a controversial figure just confirms the specific nature of the so-called "diplomatic representations" under dictatorships. I do not doubt that he will zealously defend the interests of the Kremlin. As well as that he will interfere in the internal affairs of Belarus.

Lukashenka has signed a capitulation on all fronts. I mean both the economic one and the political one inside the country, where the people simply cannot stand him anymore. And now, formal infringement on the sovereignty has been added to that.

– What do you conclude from this situation?

– Russia is true to the policy formed under Putin. The non-recognition of the Belarusian state’s independence is an important part of this policy. But Lukashenka is pursuing similar policy as well. Do not indulge a vain hope that we have chances to defend the country under this regime.

Only the change of the regime can lead to the real development in Belarus.

There’s a widely known expression: what the Russian bayonet did not get done, the Russian official, the Russian school and the Russian priest will get done.

Now let's see what kind of policy Lukashenka is pursuing. He welcomes bayonets on our territory (I mean such large-scale maneuvers as West-2017). And Russian officials lay down conditions for Lukashenka telling him how to behave. And our school is Russian, too. And an odious Russian priest has been sent to command the Orthodox Church of Belarus.

That is, Lukashenka is pursuing a policy that fully corresponds to the interests of the imperial Kremlin. This must be remembered and we should not indulge a vain hope, that he can somehow protect our sovereignty and independence. We must remember it and press for the change of the regime through elections and peaceful means.