MINSK, 28 January (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko commented on the latest developments in Russia, including the protests and Navalny's investigations at a meeting to improve the legislation on 28 January, BelTA has learned.
“Recent events in Russia show that back in the first half of last year we did an absolutely accurate forecast as to how they would act against us. You remember, I repeatedly said that they need Belarus as a springboard for the attack against the Russian Federation. We cited a lot of facts,” the head of state noted.
"Differences between the Belarusian events and the Russian events may be several. But the main difference is that in August they bet on a blitzkrieg in Belarus. They want to instantly overthrow the government or at least show that the government is down and send NATO troops here. In Russia, they will be working long term to destabilize the domestic situation. They understand perfectly well that a blitzkrieg is impossible in Russia," Aleksandr Lukashenko continued. “They are doing in Russia what they were doing here except that the game will be long-term, right until the Duma elections. It's going to be their first rehearsal. Then, after the Duma elections, they will keep rocking the boat. They know how to play long term. They're not newbies. We have seen it. The special services, both the Interior Ministry and the KGB, know it well. We have constantly informed the Russians. We have seen that they are preparing for events in Russia."
One of the stages of destabilizing the situation in Russia, according to the Belarusian leader, are the investigations by Alexey Navalny. "All investigations of ‘the German protester' who was fugitive too but who was accepted back by Russia is just the beginning," the president is convinced.
In his opinion, a person who is fighting against corruption and conducts such investigations should be squeaky clean himself which Navalny is not, with a criminal case opened against him. “Putin was kind towards him, leaving him a free man with certain restrictions. Navalny was convicted of corruption charges, and today he is a fighter against corruption!” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “If someone decides to fight against the mighty, especially the authorities, against the president, decides to fight corruption, he must me squeaky clean. You cannot have a slightest blemish on your reputation.”
The president also commented on the recent film of this opposition figure. "He was allowed to go to Germany (for treatment ), and while being unconscious, he made this two-hour film. You think people do not get it? I am not commenting on the content. I haven't investigated any facts. I'm just saying that in order to fight this fight, your reputation must be squeaky clean,” the head of state noted.
Aleksandr Lukashenko reiterated his assertion that neither Belarus nor Russia will be left in peace. “They do not want Russia that is not controlled by Washington and european unions. They want it shackled. This is the goal of today's campaign launched from abroad, first of all by the United States of America. They are blind to what is happening in their countries and act much worse compared to Russia and Belarus. They fail to notice the beam in their own eye but see the speck in ours, Belarus and Russia's," the head of state said.
“They will not forgive Putin for uniting Russia,” the Belarusian leader stressed. “They will not forgive him for stopping the wars in Russia and for putting Russia back together. No one will forgive him: neither Americans, nor the European Union, nor domestic liberals. He should be ready for that. I know he's ready for it, he's an experienced man. There's no making excuses. People will sort everything out themselves,” the Belarusian head of state said.
"Russia and the people in Russia should also understand that they want Russia back in the mid-1990s, when the government, the FSB, the Presidential Administration had advisers from the United States and NATO who told them what to do with weapons, nuclear weapons and so on and so forth. I know that firsthand. I worked with the Russian leadership at that time and saw what was happening. With the arrival of Putin, the chekists and others, who are now being criticized in Russia (FSB and the police), brought order to the country,” the head of state noted.
The Belarusian president stressed that he keeps in constant touch with the Russian president and other officials, discussing the current agenda. The parties are in absolute agreement on many issues. "We were on the same side of the barricades before and continue to be, fighting for our dignity," the Belarusian leader summed up.
