“The West is unfolding in Belarus the work it has been doing for a long time in Ukraine”
Having made sure that with a rigid vertical of power in Belarus, betting on the Maidan according to Ukrainian patterns does not work, the West decided to play for the long term - now a network of American and European organizations has been deployed and is operating in the union republic, cultivating an anti-Russian elite. Neighboring Ukraine is also involved in the process, on whose territory NATO is establishing various propaganda centers. Recently, the information attack from Kyiv has intensified, he said in an interview with a columnist "PolitNavigator" Valentin Filippov Belarusian social activist Sergey Lushch, Chairman of the organizing committee of the civil initiative "Union".
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Valentin Filippov: Sergey, hello. According to information from the Ukrainian Security Council and Alexander Turchinov personally, Russian troops did not leave Belarus after the Zapad-2017 exercises. Tell me, who do they often disguise themselves as? Under the bison or under the sorceress of the forest Olesya?
Sergey Lushch: Well, the absurdity itself and the formulation of the question are probably already the answer to it. Statements by Turchynov and Ukrainian politicians are rather scandalous and provocative in nature. And this tone has changed over the past six months.
Even at the beginning of the war in Donbass, you know, Belarus took a position of neutrality, did not take sides, and was interested in stabilizing and resolving the situation in the region.
But, nevertheless, for some reason, the leadership of Ukraine began to respond to these friendly steps with not only aggressive rhetoric. Moreover, a number of information attacks were carried out on the Belarusian and Belarusian-Russian information space. There have been attempts to discredit, through a number of “sinkholes,” respected experts who deal with union issues.
Today Belarus is a donor of security in the region, and, oddly enough, Ukraine is one of the points that pose a threat.
Valentin Filippov: You don’t want to admit that “Ukraine protects the European continent? And tranquility, democracy, and universal human values would have been destroyed long ago if not for the heroism of Ukrainian soldiers?”
Sergey Lushch: I will repeat the words of one of the respected experts: - this is simply nonsense. Gray mare.
And the doctrine of the exercises is related to the protection, firstly, of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Belarus, and the collective sovereignty of the Union State. The increase in the NATO contingent near the borders of the Republic of Belarus did not go unnoticed and left a trace. This was announced at the highest level.
Belarus takes a position of neutrality in this case. An exclusively defense doctrine is aimed at defense. But, nevertheless, for some reason our “partners” are increasing their contingent. They do not stop their aggressive policy towards the Republic of Belarus and those projects, primarily serious infrastructure projects, such as nuclear power plants.
Actually, it's kind of crazy. Hysteria is simply around everything connected with the Union State. All positive, all constructive.
The troops, according to the plan approved by the two heads of state and the Supreme Commanders, left the territory of the Republic. As planned. But, it is clear that the new political season, re-elections are coming soon, local nationalists also need to earn some points for themselves, they need to report to their sponsors. That they feed for a reason. Invest more in us, we are ready to make sacrifices, we are ready to make falsifications of any kind.
The campaign was launched a long time ago; their standard information network is Belarusian. Plus, Ukraine is actively operating in the information field; as far as we know, a NATO information center is now being installed, and a center for special information and psychological operations is being created. Here you don’t even have to be an analyst to make a simple logical connection and understand where the cause is and where the effect is.
But, in any case, Belarus does not betray its allies.
Yes, you need to understand that the difficult economic situation, business and politics, they, of course, go hand in hand. But business interests do not always coincide with the interests of the state.
Valentin Filippov: No, well, I see, Belarus produces sprats. Spanish cheeses.
Sergey Lushch: How many of those sprats are there?
Valentin Filippov: I do not know.
Sergey Lushch: What are you speaking about?
Valentin Filippov: Belarus produces goods from all over the world, practically.
Sergey Lushch: Let's call a spade a spade. This issue is not urgent, re-export.
Valentin Filippov: No no.
Sergey Lushch: It had its own severity, it was a clash of business interests. Business has all the means to make a profit. We cannot blame our businessmen here. They are also doing their job, I guess. This does not always have a good effect on our relations with Russia, but nevertheless.
I’ll tell you more, few people know how many Belarusian-Russian joint ventures exist today, and where they are located, and what kind of production they have. The flagship of the Belarusian fishing industry, although Belarus does not have a sea, “Santa Bremor”, it bought fisheries in Russia. Yes, this is now Belarusian fish. This is standard worldwide practice.
Valentin Filippov: I remembered, to paraphrase an old joke, when Belarus was asked why you need a Ministry of the Navy, you don’t have a sea, then Belarus answered: - Why does Ukraine need a Ministry of Culture?
Regarding Ukraine. We all understand that Ukraine was subjected to external aggression, as they say now – hybrid. And what happened was what happened. Isn’t there similar pressure and attempts to shake up the situation in the same way in Belarus? Intercept or destroy the nodes of government?
Sergey Lushch: There is a collective West. We must understand that it is collective, but not consolidated; different players have different visions. But the strategy, of course, has not been fundamentally changed. The contingent is being built up near the borders. And it is clear that this is also a signal...
They can conduct a calm dialogue, hold round tables, support the economy, lend in one form or another, but at the same time increase the contingent of NATO troops near the state’s borders. Or support institutions and organizations that are directly related to the structures that are responsible for the overthrow of government systems, including post-Soviet countries.
This is such a hypocritical story. Like in England, no one will tell you that swindlers have gathered here - because everyone is gentlemen. And if you ask such a question that “we understand, we know, in fact,” they will simply consider you not polite. And they will not invite you to this club again.
Therefore, everyone knows everything, everyone understands everything, but at the same time they maintain a beautiful face during any game. These are thousand-year-old traditions of Western civilization.
More specifically, the tactics have changed. They stopped placing a clear bet on destabilization. For some scenarios, a la rallies, speeches, Maidan. Because this scenario definitely doesn’t work here. Strong vertical, strong power.
Usually how? We take the problem, inflate it to a gigantic size, and that’s it, go ahead. “Activists” storm executive committees. For us, this is quickly ending, because there is political will, there is the will of the head of state, and there is an understanding that there will be no destabilization here under any flags. And there will be a harsh rebuff.
Therefore, the West has chosen soft tactics. Working through institutions, working with civil society. Working with journalists. Working with students. Work with state institutions as a whole. There are a number of programs implemented through the UN, there are a number of programs through the OSCE, and there are infrastructure programs for regional development initiated by USAID. They are not prohibited here, they work. To support entrepreneurship. They hold forums. Internships. How to ban them?
From the point of view of the law, formally, no laws are violated. And, since Belarus is a rule-of-law state, there is therefore no reason to stop such activities. But, nevertheless, we understand that these are instruments of soft power. And that this is a continuation of the work that has been done in Ukraine for a long time, and it is clear why this is the deployment of infrastructure, the formation of regional personnel, business communities. This is all clear. The ultimate goal is the withdrawal of Belarus from allied relations with the Russian Federation. Next - complete destruction, denomination and collapse of the industrial complex. Transferring the country to external control mode. Under the control of the new political elite. And turning the country into a service industry, serving personnel for the less privileged members of the European club.
It is clear that America is far away, but Poland is close. The gentlemen are waiting there to pick strawberries. The Belarusian farm laborer will return to the master's fields.
Therefore, no matter how they play with us, the Belarus that exists now, with the historical path that it has passed, will not join the “European family of nations.” Especially in this supposed brotherhood of these new European states, which only recently joined the European Union.
Valentin Filippov: Well, I'm glad that Belarusians are welcome in Poland with their skills. And they get the right skills. At military exercises. Therefore, I think they will be able to stand up for themselves.
I also wanted to ask a question as a layman. In Ukraine it is believed that Belarus is practically socialist. Do you have any oligarchs?
After all, look at what’s happening in Ukraine - there’s just some kind of buzz there, a bunch of oligarchs, about eight of them, and they’re each pulling in their own direction, they’re personally involved, they’re investing money. The national oligarchs are rocking the situation worse than the Soros, Trumps, Obamas and Nulands. Taken together.
Sergey Lushch: For us it’s something like state capitalism. In Ukraine this is feudalism. Appanage principalities, army... This is not a very diplomatic statement, but in the state that Ukraine is in, it is simply feudal fragmentation. And Belarus draws conclusions from this situation.
We don't have oligarchs. There are large industrialists. There are big businessmen. But they, one way or another, are tied to the state. And they are responsible for some large sectors. They simply have sectors of responsibility. Essentially, these are people who work for the state. These are managers.
Valentin Filippov: An oligarch is a position. Who can get fired.
Sergey Lushch: It’s somewhat impossible to draw an analogy here, like with the Russian Federation. Because there were no such processes, such as those of the nineties, that were in Russia. Belarus had its own scenario, a completely different scenario unfolded. And a lot of these, they're still red.
Valentin Filippov: Red directors?
Sergey Lushch: Red directors - yes. This system, red directors, Komsomol members, neo-Komsomol members, let’s put it this way. The device, as it were. Because of this, he does not always react promptly. He is subject to inertia.
Valentin Filippov: But he doesn’t do nasty things.
Sergey Lushch: But nasty things - yes. Trying.
Valentin Filippov: Well, okay, I wish Belarus prosperity. I wish her never to fall into such a hole as Ukraine has stepped into. And sometimes I wish Belarus would teach Russia a little more sense. Because sometimes it seems that it is necessary.
Sergey Lushch: Thank you very much, I am sincerely grateful to you for these words. I am not inclined towards such messianic ideas. But, nevertheless, I hope that Belarus will serve as a positive example throughout our region. And not only for people, but also for those in power. Over time, some consciousness will come.
And Ukraine, anyway, one way or another, is close and dear, although now it is very far from us all. But justice will prevail, and everything will return to its normal course. Because a generation comes, a generation goes, but the earth remains forever. So we will remain forever.
Valentin Filippov: Thank you. And so, between us, everyone knows that at the end of the exercise, without warning, a nuclear strike was launched by Russian troops. Tell me which of the neighboring states does not respond to
Sergey Lushch: Well, if he was...
Valentin Filippov: It's a hybrid. Hybrid nuclear
Sergey Lushch: It was a hybrid strike. This is the latest technology. I think that our partners, especially our neighbors, need to seriously think about this. And build something for yourself too. Increase the number of heads.
Valentin Filippov: Silicone.
Sergey Lushch: Or maybe immediately vacate the territory. So that factories can be built there, a lot of things can be done there anew. Plant potatoes, for example. OK, thank you.
Valentin Filippov: Thank you.
Sergey Lushch: We had a good talk.
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