Anatol Kotau: Lukashenka Has Got One Single Thought In His Head

The dictator is afraid.

On January 25, the press service of Aliaksandr Lukashenka announced that the dictator unexpectedly flew to the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Zimbabwe.

Anatol Kotau, a former employee of the Lukashenka administration, told Charter97.org why the dictator decided to go to these countries:

- To the Emirates - to relax, at least for a few days. And Lukashenka flew to Zimbabwe to solve the his business problems. Belarusian state-owned enterprises have no interests in that country. Companies related to the administration are active there, but they are not state-owned companies.

There are many business projects in various industries in Zimbabwe, such as gold mining. In order to make things move faster, you need direct contact at the state level. For example, to get new mines to be developed. This is why there was a short-term holiday in the Emirates, and Lukashenka flew to Zimbabwe on business. It would not be very nice to fly only to Zimbabwe, the idea was to stop somewhere else on the way, so they decided to combine business with pleasure.

- Shortly before the flight the European Parliament called for a tribunal for Lukashenka and Putin. To what extent is Lukashenka afraid of such a development and is he preparing a reserve airfield?

- It is unlikely that he is preparing a reserve airfield for himself. As to his being afraid, yes, this thought is becoming clearer and clearer in his mind.

However, his court analysts will write that the regime is stronger than ever and an international tribunal is a very distant prospect, because the latest documents that have been passed are non-binding.

So far it is such a long game, so the regime is doing what it has been doing unfortunately successfully for the last two and a half years: securing its existence here and now, robbing, imposing new taxes and fines and imprisoning the dissenters.