Belarus: Russia Demands Reforms from Lukashenko

Kremlin chief Putin is sending his chief diplomat to Belarus, where the protests against the ruler Lukashenko are not subsiding. Foreign Minister Lavrov urges changes to the political system. The regime in Minsk seems to have been able to count on Russian support so far – but will it stay that way?

After more than three months of protests in Belarus, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is calling on ruler Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk for reforms. In the presidential palace he first expressly brings greetings from Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin in Moscow. And then immediately demands that all agreements that both of them have made should be kept. By this he also means the constitutional reform promised by Lukashenko and modernization of the political system, Lavrov says unexpectedly clearly.

For months there have been protests and strikes by Lukashenko’s opponents in numerous cities. The ruler of Minsk insults the people as “rats”, “prostitutes” and “alcoholics” and emphasizes at every opportunity not to give up power at any price. “Although he announced a new constitution and promised to limit the president’s powers in the future, there is no real dialogue with the democracy movement,” says Minsk political scientist Valery Karbelevich.

The deal for an end to the Lukashenko era possible?

Russia also wants a new constitution – and Lavrov pledges Lukashenko and his colleague Vladimir Makei – a new constitution that strengthens the role of parliament and the government. Basically, after the changes, a referendum on the new constitution and then new elections would be planned. “Russia, too, sees that Lukashenko is playing for a while, that nothing changes, and that he feels safe in the saddle again,” says Karbelevich. Rather, Lukashenko has been suppressing the opposition’s demands for a democratic constitution, for his resignation, and for new elections for months with a massive police force.

Lavrov does not say that the democracy movement in Belarus is fundamentally peaceful

Lavrov evades – as he often does – in Minsk and points to Paris or Berlin, where the state is also using rubber bullets against protesters. He also accused the West of interfering in the country’s affairs. Lavrov does not say that the democracy movement in Belarus is fundamentally peaceful and that a rally is never approved. In addition, there have so far been several deaths in protests, hundreds of injuries, and tens of thousands of arrests in Belarus. Expert Karbelevich speaks of the “worst repression” in a European country for decades. The analysts in Minsk, including Artyom Schraibman, nevertheless assume that Lavrov’s visit should serve to get Lukashenko on his feet and to get the situation under control.

Belarus: Russia Demands Reforms from Lukashenko

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