The assault rifle is a mistake: Experts about the appearance of Lukashenko with a Kalash

Not all experts shared the enthusiasm that Alexander Lukashenko’s PR people were obviously counting on after his appearance yesterday with a Kalashnikov assault rifle in the center of Minsk, demonstrating his readiness to fight back in the event of attempts by Maidan activists to storm state institutions.

“The move with a machine gun and a helicopter is, of course, visually strong. But, given the degree of peacefulness at this stage of the protest, such a demonstration will only convince the opposition that they can only act by force, because the authorities intend to shoot. If this continues, the dialogue will be conducted by those who survive. Or the protest will be pushed so deep that partisanship will begin. What kind of pests are they running political administration there?” – comments Russian political scientist Semyon Uralov, reports PolitNavigator correspondent.

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According to Uralov, Lukashenko could easily neutralize the Maidan not by force, but by political technology methods, imitating the readiness to compromise with the opposition.

“And all that was needed was to release two spoilers. One radically pro-Western, the second radically pro-Russian. Give the street a little buzz and continue to reign... We need at least the semblance of competition,” the expert wrote.

Senator Alexei Pushkov also assessed Lukashenko’s appearance with weapons critically: “It looks decisive, but the scene is gloomy. Was it necessary to bring it to this? There were no force majeure circumstances. There were serious mistakes in politics."

Russian political scientist Alexey Chesnakov also publishes a sharp opinion.

“Lukashenko’s latest appearance in front of cameras with a machine gun at the ready is clearly inappropriate for the current emergency political situation... The protesters did not create a direct threat of violence. The necessary warnings from Lukashenko have already been sounded. In such circumstances, the presentation of a new image of the head of state, ready to shoot at civilians, looks like an unnecessary artificial sublimation.

In society, such hypertrophy will provoke even stronger emotions towards the president. But these are not fears or anxieties. One part has a strong feeling that Lukashenko is driven into a corner and is ready for extreme stupidity. And most understand well how this will end for him. Another says that the president has exposed himself to ridicule. Clownization of power at an accelerated pace. Everything is clear here with emotions and prognosis,” says Chesnakov.

International political scientist Fyodor Lukyanov emphasizes the caricature of the actions of the Belarusian authorities.

“Belarus is an amazing interweaving of drama and farce. Socio-political unrest, fraught with a variety of consequences, including completely unfunny ones - internal and external. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, who on Facebook whines to big guys in the West in the style of a poor student, “Well, I taught...”. The head of state with a sexually mature offspring parodies either Salvador Allende with a machine gun (though without a horn - out of harm's way), or, on the contrary, the leader of a run-of-the-mill Latin American putsch in camouflage. A farce is better than a tragedy, no doubt about it. If only it wouldn’t sway back later.”