International Courant
There are usually not many world leaders who’ve been in energy for thirty years.
Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus is accused of stealing elections, crushing dissent and dismantling democracy.
Britain, the EU and the US don’t acknowledge him because the professional president of Belarus.
There’s another factor it is best to learn about him: If there’s one chief Vladimir Putin is aware of in and out, it is Lukashenko. The 2 males have identified one another for years and meet usually.
Alexander Lukashenko met me on the sidelines of the Brics summit of rising economies. He needs Belarus to turn out to be a member.
I requested him to remark claims that North Korea had despatched troops to battle alongside Russia in Ukraine.
“Nonsense,” Lukashenko replied. “Figuring out his character, Putin would by no means attempt to persuade one other nation to contain its army in Russia’s particular operation in Ukraine.”
“And if the stories are confirmed?” I requested.
“It could be a step in direction of escalating the battle if the armed forces of any nation, even Belarus, have been on the border,” Alexander Lukashenko replied.
“Even when we have been to get entangled within the warfare, this is able to be a path to escalation. Why? Since you, the Anglo-Saxons, would instantly say that on one aspect one other nation was concerned… in order that NATO troops can be deployed in Ukraine.”
I ask him whether or not Vladimir Putin has ever requested Lukashenko to supply Belarusian troops for the Kremlin’s warfare in Ukraine.
“By no means. Neither he, nor (former Protection Minister) Sergei Shoigu, nor present Protection Minister Andrei Belousov ever requested this query.”
However Belarus performed a job within the Russian warfare. In February 2022, Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine started, partly from Belarusian territory. Why did the nation’s chief let the Kremlin do this?
“How are you aware that I licensed the usage of Belarusian territory?” Lukashenko asks me.
“As a result of Belarusian territory was used (for the invasion).”
“There have been workout routines occurring involving a number of thousand Russian troopers. Putin started withdrawing these troops from the place they have been in southern Belarus, alongside a street alongside the border with Ukraine.
‘At one level he redirected a few of these troops to Kiev. I am certain they have been provoked. It’s as much as Putin how he withdraws his troops. Through Kiev. Or he may have gone through Minsk.’
“Did not you name Putin to ask what was occurring?” I ask.
“No. He did not name me. And I did not name him. These are his troops and he has the fitting to maneuver them any manner he needs.”
This remark displays the extent of affect the Kremlin has in neighboring Belarus.
One other instance: Russia has stationed tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.
“Is Putin prepared to make use of these weapons within the warfare in Ukraine?” I ask.
“Putin won’t ever use the weapons stationed in Belarus with out the permission of the Belarusian president,” Lukashenko mentioned.
“Are you keen to permit the usage of nuclear weapons?”
‘I am all set, why else do I’ve these weapons? However provided that the boot of 1 (international) soldier enters Belarus. We have now no plans to assault anybody.”
Human rights organizations estimate that there are at the moment 1,300 political prisoners in Belarus.
Alexander Lukashenko had advised me earlier that there have been none.
However when he spoke to me right now (maybe unintentionally) he used the phrase “political prisoner” when speaking concerning the small quantity launched in latest months.
Some commentators have interpreted the discharge as a message from Lukashenko to the West that he seeks higher relations.
He denies that.
“We have now launched political prisoners on humanitarian grounds,” he says. “It was primarily the aged and sick. That is it.
“This isn’t a step in direction of bettering relations with you. If you do not need relationships with us, that is high-quality. We’ll be high-quality with out you.”
North Korean troops in Ukraine would escalate the battle, Lukashenko advised the BBC
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