"Strene horse in Putin's cart." Lukashenko will look for Russians fleeing from mobilization, but will not defend the Russian Federation in Ukraine - journalist from Minsk
Video of the day - on the eve of the Kremlin's announcement of partial mobilization in Russia, Lukashenko complained about some strengthening of military activity, an increase in NATO military groups on the border with Belarus. But he says that the overall mobilization in Belarus will not be announced. He says that not only regular troops, but also the people's militia should be ready.
Have these statements already switched on any practical steps? - This militia has been mentioned a few months ago. It was said that in some districts some bubble uncles would gather and will teach for some reason, some bosses gathered. But seriously, it is absolutely impossible to call it a militia or a terroboron. This is for the tick, as they say. - As in Belarus, the news is perceived in the last two days from Russia, where the so -called partial mobilization was declared.
What is the population of Belarus? - I think that the population of Belarus is shocked and many are afraid, so that it is not the turn that Lukashenko would not be forced to mobilize Belarus for the war for the sake of Putin. A certain shock continues. Also, Belarus will probably come now and it is already known that Russians who run away from mobilization come.
Almost all tickets from the Minsk airport to the places where they are still flying have already been bought out, because the Belarusian company is actually forbidden in the European Union and the United States and is not accepted. But in other countries very expensive tickets are now, hotel orders. In response, the authorities say that he will look for Russian citizens who flee from mobilization, to give them back to Russia. But these are such threats.
It is difficult to say how they will be realized. There are many different speculations on this topic, but Belarus still remains aside from this war. Foreign Minister [Vladimir] Makey, speaking to the UN stated that no Belarusian soldier was sent to the Ukrainian territory and would not be sent. However, it should be mentioned that on February 23 he said that there would be no aggression from the Belarusian territory, and it happened.
All these words, which Makey says and even Lukashenko says, must be questioned because they either do not want to speak the truth, or simply do not sometimes know because they are not acting, but Russian authorities. - Speaking of the identification of Russians who run away from mobilization go to Belarus. We saw these queues, the Russians rushed to flee.
How should this identification take place? Do hotels, check passports? Is it just an oral order and there have been no precedents so far? - There are no active actions, but it is about what will be checked in hotels, and even in removing apartments, in airports, to watch who and what. I understand so, all this is the Russian side demands from Belarusian. And the Belarusian side goes, performs all the strokes. But how really it will be done is hard to say.
There are no many examples yet, this process has just begun. - Can Lukashenko not give these fugitives, what do you think? - Hard to tell. I think he no longer decides and who will ask him. If they find and order from Moscow, they will want someone . . . But this is the whole question for those who want to run. They are most interested in not getting. I think Belarus is not a better location for escape, but if you take [variants] - better in Belarus than somewhere near Moscow.
- How do news from Ukraine in Belarus after a counter -offensive in Kharkiv region perceive? Has Lukashenko's behavior changed in recent days? - No. Lukashenko's behavior is such that he continues to pretend that there is a loyal Putin, Russian politics. He did not depart from it, but may not become so active. He further ignites hostility to Poland, NATO; shows that he is ready to fight with Poland, with NATO; will protect Russia from there, but will not defend Russia in Ukraine.
That is, he does everything in political and security plan, so that Putin does not force him to throw Belarusian soldiers into this war. At this point, he succeeds, but he has a very limited toolkit to refrain from pressure from Moscow. Now it is practically in isolation and is tied like a stirrup horse, before Putin carries.
- Does the Belarusian population listen to what the Belarusian opposition Svetlana Tikhanovskaya says? Do their actions follow this government in exile? -Yes, of course, people who have the opportunity (and they have the opportunity to watch through the online space, through telegrams, they show curiosity.
The only thing that they are already tired of this terror, which continues for more than two years in Belarus, where for each subscription to telegrams, recognized as extremist, can be planted, punished, etc. And they say that Tikhanovskaya and her people who operate in exile are a little torn, but they monitor it. Something are pleased, something dissatisfied, but there is the only real alternative to the representative office of Belarus.