Claims Against Lukashenka Made In Russian Duma

Total loyalty is demanded from the dictator.

First deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots Konstantin Zatulin voiced claims against Lukashenka on the air of the "Moscow Talk" radio station.

"By definition, we have the closest relations with Belarus. It should be noted that they are not only related to a common view of what is happening in Ukraine; here we may actually have differences. Since Lukashenka has never personally declared about the recognition of, say, the Crimea as a part of the Russian Federation, let alone the recognition of the new subjects of Russia," Zatulin said.

He reminded that ruler of Syria Bashar al-Assad declared about recognizing these regions as Russian, while Lukashenka did not.

"At the same time it is clear to everyone that after the elections in 2020, Aliaksandr Lukashenka relies only on Russia's support. He has once again been called the last dictator of Europe. However, now Putin is even more odious for the media in the West," added the Russian deputy.

We would like to point out that despite the fact that Lukashenka does not recognize Crimea and the occupied territories de jure, there is de facto close trade with these territories.