Lukashenka's Attempts to Reanimate Relations with Putin Are Futile, Says Expert

The final rift happened in December 2019.

In another Saturday stream, independent economist Siarhei Chaly commented on the version of political analyst Valery Karbalevich about the important and hidden changes in the relationship between Aliaksandr Lukashenka and Vladimir Putin, reports Salidarnasts.

The analyst offers to analyze the speeches made in Minsk and Moscow on May 9.

"In the most difficult time of the war, in the decisive battles that determined the outcome of the fight against fascism, our people were alone on the difficult, heroic and sacrificial path to Victory." According to Chaly, this phrase from Putin may be an answer to Lukashenka's attempts to try on a form of a true and sole heir to the Great Victory.

Like the reaction to last year's public demonstration of his superiority, which turned into a parade in the middle of a coronavirus epidemic, while the Kremlin master was hiding in a bunker and gave up celebrations for the time being.

The expert believes that Putin's words express loneliness, like Lukashenka's earlier statement does: "We have no friends in the world. We only have the interests of the states around us".

- Everyone says he is alone, there are no friends left," says Chaly. He draws attention to some points.

The long-term symbiosis between Belarus and Russia was based on the fact that we sold anaesthesia for imperial pains to Moscow, helped it to feel like an empire, able to extend its influence beyond its borders and receiving certain bonuses for that.

The phrase about the interests of its neighbours may be a bitter statement that he has lost subjectivity, the expert says. It comes from the loss of legitimacy.

- I guess these words express a grievance. I think it is exactly what he heard from Putin. It's a realization: I've been with you all the time, and now Putin says, "Sorry, but sanctions are your sanctions, and we may use them to solve our own problems."

The economist considers Lukashenka's attempts to reanimate relations with the Russian president are futile. Actually, as well as the attempts to reanimate relations with his "beloved", which he is still not going to surrender to anyone.

Following the metaphor of the domestic abuser, Chaly reminded of the advice of experts: the sooner the family breaks up with the tyrant, the better.

According to the expert, the final rift happened in December 2019 at the summit of the EEU heads of state. After that, conversations with Putin were at the level of "do you want water or milk porridge?"

- We are witnessing not just a rift ("we'll let you go bankrupt, but that's it"). The moment comes, or it has already come, and Lukashenka realizes that it's the end," summed up Siarhei Chaly.