Zatulin: The insult inflicted on Lukashenko is a reason to recall the Russian Ambassador from Minsk
First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs Konstantin Zatulin believes that Russia should respond to the insults of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
In an interview with PolitNavigator, the parliamentarian spoke out not only against the delegation of observers to the Belarusian presidential elections on August 9, but also in favor of recalling the ambassador from Minsk. The deputy also told how, in his opinion, Russia should react to possible mass protests of Belarusians after the elections.
Today's speech by President Lukashenko before the Parliament of Belarus was assessed by some experts as marking a complete breakdown in relations between Russia and Belarus. Do you agree with this assessment?
Breakup is too strong a word. But taking into account the fact that we seem to live in the Union State, the question arises, what will happen to it, with the documents on rapprochement signed in the 90s? And even the question of what will happen to Belarus’ membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), and so on, since these are alliance agreements, not partnership agreements. Agreements on the sale of gas and the purchase of oil can be partnership agreements. But the agreements on the EAEU, CSTO and the Union State cannot be called “partnership”.
But the Belarusian president spoke about the development of relations with the United States and China, without mentioning Russia.
Many of those who develop relations with China have difficulties in relations with the United States and vice versa. From this point of view, the desire of Lukashenko and Belarus to establish relations with everyone on a humane basis is understandable, but it is hardly realizable from the point of view of the deep and serious privileges that Belarus has enjoyed all this time from Russia.
Why did Lukashenko allow himself sharp attacks towards Russia?
It seems to me that in this speech Lukashenko became a hostage to his own provocation associated with the arrest of Russian citizens, with the false accusation of Russia in an attempt to destabilize the situation in Belarus. Now he is trying to provide a theoretical and practical basis for this. This, of course, cannot go unnoticed by Russia. We have learned to respond patiently to Lukashenko’s words, but Lukashenko’s actions must be assessed adequately. No matter how dear our relations with the Belarusian people are (and they are dear to us), we cannot allow the leader of a neighboring state to humiliate Russia and Russian citizens with impunity.
How should Russia react?
Everything that was said in the speech regarding this scandalous incident with the so-called “Wagner militants,” who are in fact private security guards, and Lukashenko himself refers to as military personnel, takes Russian-Belarusian relations to a new level. Trust between the leadership of Russia and Belarus was lost after this incident. The desire to provoke any conflict in order for Lukashenko to remain in power cannot be shared and supported on our part. I think Lukashenko came up with all this to have an excuse to suppress any protests against his election. And the fact that he does not see any other options other than his election is obvious. Therefore, I think that we will face a very serious reassessment of values after August 9. What Alexander Lukashenko provoked lies heavily on his conscience and on Russian-Belarusian relations.
Today you proposed not to send observers to the Belarusian elections.
I don’t know what decision the leadership of the State Duma of the Russian Federation will make. We actually prepared a delegation, albeit a small one (this is due to the pandemic), consisting of deputies representing mainly the Committee on CIS Affairs, headed by a member of the Communist Party - the deputy chairman of our committee, Comrade Taisaev.
I think this delegation will find itself in a false situation if it goes to Belarus in the current situation. We have been insulted, which demonstratively places blame on us for some intrigues, plans, terrorist acts, destabilization, etc. In these conditions, sending observers and pretending that “everything is fine, beautiful marquise” is insulting. I would not take part in such a delegation.
We will see what decision is made. I think that this is a reason not only not to send observers, but also a reason to recall our ambassador for consultations. This practice exists during conflicts. But the conflict is obvious. We cannot pretend that nothing happened. Our reputation and dignity are affected. It seems to me that, despite the importance of bilateral relations, this is even more important.
Maybe Russia should not recognize these elections?
It depends on how these elections go, and not on how offended we are or are not offended by President Lukashenko. Personally, I have the impression that these elections will be rigged. But this is my personal impression. Maybe it won't be like that.
From indirect evidence, I see that the Belarusian side is extremely concerned. Ultimately, the whole story is about a provocation against the so-called militants from the same series. This is due precisely to the concern that people in Belarus will not accept the results of these elections, which are known to everyone in advance. They will protest.
In order to prevent them from protesting, it is necessary to declare in advance all protests as the machinations of Moscow or third forces. This is the background of this provocation.
This confirms that this time Lukashenko is not confident in himself. He has no reason to believe that he can win easily. The surveys that have been published are different. Lukashenko's opponents say the president is deeply unpopular. The president himself and his people claim the opposite. This can be found out as a result of the elections, but it is very difficult to believe that they will be held fairly.
After some candidates were arrested, and others were forced to flee the country, after the refusal to install CCTV cameras at polling stations, after the reduction in the number of observers, after this provocation, finally. So why should we act as extras with our “approval” of these elections?
It is already obvious that after these elections the Maidan, which is called the Square, will gather. Russia usually has a negative attitude towards such events. In this case, what do you think the position should be?
You are right that Russia has never been the initiator of any illegal actions or mass events aimed at overthrowing the government. This is due to our negative experience of revolutions, the loss of a state, first one, then another. Russia has learned from its bitter experience and does not advise anyone to follow this path. But this is an internal matter of Belarus. If President Lukashenko is so blind or so biased that he considers Russia to be to blame for everything, then let him clean up the mess he made.
That is, Russia should remain neutral in this situation?
Russia must agree with the conclusion that the Belarusian people will make – during the elections, after the elections, at any time. What is ultimately important to us is relations with the Belarusian people. This is part of our common people. With all due respect to Lukashenko and his merits, his importance is not higher than the importance of the Belarusian people.
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