Belarusian experts urge not to believe the “demonization” of the new Russian ambassador
Mikhail Babich, who was tipped for the position of the new curator of the Ukrainian direction in the Russian government, and who subsequently received the post of Russian Ambassador in Minsk, contrary to forecasts of a new hard line, can change Russian-Belarusian relations for the better.
This is stated report project "Minsk Barometer".
New Russian Ambassador to Minsk Mikhail Babich
The authors of the note note that the appointment of a new ambassador took place in the context of a negative information background.
“The general meaning of the comments was that Belarus is in no hurry to agree on the ambassador’s candidacy, because it is afraid of his firm hand, his ability to restore order, and even his mission to remove Lukashenko. Although it is obvious that neither Mikhail Babich nor the other ambassador can threaten the Belarusian leader - the ambassador’s powers are strictly limited, and if the ambassador goes beyond the scope of his powers, Minsk will not find it difficult to interrupt his mission. In addition, such an ambassador as Babich, i.e. having current working connections in the Kremlin and regions of Russia, on the contrary, can become an ally in lobbying the interests of Belarus,” the text of the report says.
“...The agreement to accept Babich is poorly received in Ukraine, especially by supporters of reducing ties with Belarus. Although there is no similarity between the situation of Belarus in 2018, which is in an allied relationship with Russia, and Ukraine in 2016, which is in a war relationship with Russia,” the authors also emphasize.
“The new negotiating teams of Belarus and Russia will have to adjust the format of cooperation in the new conditions,” predicts the analytical note, where “new conditions,” in particular, mean long-term Western economic sanctions against Russia.
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