Why Did Lukashenka Insult Putin?

One thing is certain.

Listen, what does this sneering attack on Putin on the Belarusian TV channel mean?

Perhaps, Lukashenka has simply decided to show his compatriots that he had not "bent over for Moscow" at all, as malicious gossip says.

If this version is correct, the message has two addresses. The first is the citizens of Belarus. Anti-Russian sentiments are growing in the country, and the caudillo is trying to curb them. The second, no less important audience, is his apparatus, first of all, the law enforcement officers. These people respect only "force", so the notion that their leader is not independent, but kowtows to someone else, does not strengthen his position in this environment. For law enforcers not to inadvertently decide that it's time to retire, they should not doubt your subjectivity. Do you remember Lukashenka complained in spring about the conspiracy of generals?

One can assume that the resolution on this anti-Putin outburst is not so much of an internal but a foreign policy nature. Perhaps, the Belarusian dictator decided to send a signal to Moscow about his discontent. Either it has failed to give him something or twisted him, or in general, it is some kind of barter with the West. Like, I can pursue the anti-Putin course if we agree on some benefits.

Or Lukashenka might finally lose control, and he goes nuts.

We will hardly learn the true nature of what happened, at least in the near future. One thing is certain. Russian political management becomes increasingly less effective not only on internal fronts but also on external ones.

One could also talk about the moral character of our allies, but there is no need to. That is clear enough for everyone.

Abbas Galliamov, Echo of Moscow