‘Lukashenka's Fate Is Sealed’

The dictator is scared, knowing that the Kremlin will not forgive him.

What awaits Lukashenka after the death of Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin?

Dzmitry Bandarenka, the Coordinator European Belarus Civil Campaign, answers this question for Charter97.org:

“Both Prigozhin and Lukashenka believed that Putin was very weak then, so they counted on the support of the military. The recent resignation of General Sergei Surovikin testifies to this as well as Lukashenka's statement that he was ready to transfer a special forces brigade to Moscow. After all, he did not want to protect Moscow this way but to participate in the rebellion on the side of the putschists.

However, something went wrong, most of the military at that time did not support Prigozhin's rebellion, and Lukashenka had to do everything to act as an alleged negotiator and hide the head of Wagner on his territory. Putin eventually finished Prigozhin off. Now, two months later, Putin and his clan - Shoigu and Patrushev - know perfectly well who participated in the rebellion.

Naturally, Lukashenka is frightened, because the “godfather of all Russia” cannot forgive betrayal. Only Prigozhin is easier to replace, but in the current situation in Russia, it is more difficult to replace Lukashenka. However, I am sure that the Kremlin will definitely deal with him, and Lukashenka knows that well.

All this turmoil destabilizes our enemies, but it is important for us that Belarus becomes democratic. Yes, Lukashenka's fate is sealed, but what will happen to Belarus then? It will depend only on the Belarusians themselves, on those people who call themselves leaders...

In the meantime, events are quite promising for us.