The new Russian ambassador to Belarus is considered smarter and more dangerous
Dmitry Mezentsev has been appointed the new Ambassador of Russia to Belarus. The corresponding decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin was published on the official website of the Kremlin.
Mezentsev was a former governor of the Irkutsk region and a senator from Sakhalin. Another interesting point in his biography is that in the 90s he worked in the mayor’s office of St. Petersburg at the same time as Vladimir Putin.
Mezentsev (left) and Alexander Lukashenko
It is characteristic that the Belarusian opposition, which actively opposed Mezentsev’s predecessor in the post - Ambassador to Belarus Mikhail Babich, is not happy with the new representative of Russia
“Babich is already officially “EVERYTHING.” But his replacement looks like a more dangerous person. At least he's smarter. In addition, Mezentsev, who was appointed ambassador to Minsk, is an information operations specialist. His dissertation was entitled “Psychology of the influence of the media on the formation of political attitudes of the individual.” And, judging by the topic, the person wrote it himself, chose the topic himself. The harsh tone will be smoothed out, but official Minsk cannot expect simple months,” oppositionist Eduard Palchis wrote in his Telegram channel.
Liberal Alexey Venediktov, editor-in-chief of radio Ekho Moskvy, gives Babich a similar characterization, albeit from a different perspective.
“Dmitry Mezentsev is a very thorough, non-conflict, cautious and enterprising person. I have known him since 1991, the complete opposite of former Ambassador Mikhail Babich.
The latter preferred to solve everything with a cavalry charge and rudeness. Mezentsev – to envelop and seduce,” Venediktov wrote in his Telegram channel.
Political scientist Fyodor Lukyanov expresses hope that the rumors about Alexander Lukashenko exchanging Babich for concessions are true.
“Verified personnel were used. Railway worker-senator Dmitry Mezentsev has a rich track record - from the Central Socialist Republic and the governorship to the Secretary General of the SCO. Babich’s ramming approach will definitely not happen now – Dmitry Fedorovich is characterized by moderation and accuracy. Let’s hope that this nod to Lukashenko was made for a reason, but as an advance to make it easier for him to make difficult integration decisions,” Lukyanov wrote in his Telegram channel.
“We can explain the intensity. Russian-Belarusian relations have reached a phase where they must move into a qualitatively different phase. One or the other. It was the attempt to understand which one, that is, to dot the i's, that caused such an aggravation. And changing the ambassador doesn’t change anything here; you’ll still have to arrange them,” explains the expert.
“And here it doesn’t even matter whether Lukashenko promised something. They wait a long time for what was promised. It is important that Russia is now approaching the negotiating table from the position: guys, we have met you halfway, now it’s your move,” agrees Belarusian political commentator Artem Shraibman.
The telegram channel “Belarusian Gambit” believes that Babich, who resigned from the post of ambassador, coped with his task - he openly announced the figures for the volume of support for Minsk from Moscow - this allegedly caused a sharp reaction in response, accompanied by attacks against the diplomat, who was named "accountant" and "bookkeeper".
“All Western agents in Belarus are directly named... Attention is drawn to the policy of forced Belarusization and “cultural war,” including issues of historical memory and symbolism. The “fifth column” and Belarusian agents of influence inside Russia, both open and hidden, have been exposed,” the author lists the consequences of the public conflict around Babich.
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