Putin, a powerful ally for Lukashenko in Belarus

Belarusian and Russian Presidents Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin in Sochi, September 14, 2020. Russian Presidential Press Service via AP

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2 min

Almost two months have passed since the presidential election on August 9 in Belarus, and since then the protest has not abated.

To stay in power, Alexander Lukashenko can count on the support of the security forces but also on that of a weighty ally: the Russia of Vladimir Putin.  

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With our correspondent in Moscow, 

Daniel Vallot

Moscow's support is primarily political: Vladimir Putin congratulated Alexander Lukashenko on his victory and promised him unwavering support, in the face of demonstrators and an opposition accused of being manipulated by Western countries.

The Russian president also raised the possibility of coming to the aid of the Belarusian power by force, if the " 

situation were to degenerate 

". 

The support is also financial, with this loan of more than a billion dollars obtained by the Belarusian president during his visit to Sochi last month.   

Now Alexander Lukashenko is almost totally dependent on his Russian ally.

And the Belarusian president, who has been siding between Russia and the West for years, has no other solution but to turn to Moscow.

► See also: Minsk and Moscow denounce European sanctions against the Belarusian regime

Two scenarios are mentioned in

Russia

 : that of a smooth transition with a leader who would be dubbed by the Kremlin or the maintenance in power of a totally vassalized Alexander Lukashenko.

The danger for Moscow nonetheless lies in the anti-Russian sentiment which is likely to develop in Belarus.

A feeling that is also beginning to be expressed in the demonstrations, even though the opposition has always taken care not to alienate its powerful neighbor. 

►

To listen and read also: Svetlana Tikhanovskaïa: "We are open to dialogue with the Russian authorities"

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  • Russia

  • Belarus

  • Alexander Lukashenko

  • Vladimir Poutine

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