Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu arrived in Belarus. A day earlier, assault units of the Russian Airborne Forces were redeployed to the Brest region. However, this is by no means “the entry of Russian troops and annexation,” as Western propaganda frightened, but participation in the planned exercises “Slavic Brotherhood 2020.”
Nevertheless, experts call the visit of the head of the Russian military department significant, given the ongoing attempts to organize a “color revolution” in Minsk. The arrival of a Russian political heavyweight like Shoigu demonstrates to the West the Kremlin’s readiness to stop interference in the affairs of the Union State.
Officially, the purpose of Shoigu’s trip sounds modest. “To discuss issues of bilateral military cooperation,” informs the Ministry of Defense of Belarus.
“We are starting joint military exercises between Russia and Belarus. Our countries have a joint grouping of troops, carry out joint military planning, and we have mutual defense obligations within the framework of the Union State and the CSTO. Therefore, Shoigu’s visit is connected precisely with these issues - strengthening military and technical cooperation between Minsk and Moscow,” says military expert, editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine Igor Korotchenko, about the official legend of the visit.
However, without a doubt, Shoigu’s appearance in Minsk is an important signal to the West, says Russian political scientist Sergei Markov. According to him, the Kremlin is making it clear that the situation in Belarus will be stabilized and no outside intervention is possible.
“This is not a signal for Minsk, it is a signal for Western countries that Russia will stabilize the situation in Minsk as much as possible and will not allow it to be undermined in any way. Therefore, this is a clear message to Western countries that they should not hope that they will be able to overthrow Alexander Lukashenko and impose their puppets on Belarus,” said political scientist Sergei Markov.
During the visit, Shoigu will most likely meet with Alexander Lukashenko, which will be another response to Western statements about non-recognition of the election results in Belarus, emphasizes Russian political scientist Bogdan Bezpalko.
“This is, first of all, a confirmation of Lukashenko’s legitimation, since Shoigu, as I understand it, will meet with the presidential administration, perhaps with Lukashenko himself. And, secondly, this is a demonstration to everyone who is counting on the possibility of any forceful pressure on Belarus that this pressure is impossible, and that Russia will not allow any Libyan, Syrian or even Ukrainian scenario to repeat itself. In this situation, this means that Belarus is under the protection of Russia,” Bezpalko said.