‘Lukashenka Fears For His Life’
- 25.02.2025, 19:26
The dictator can only visit the cowsheds.
At a visiting seminar on wintering cattle, Lukashenka voiced his fears: “The US will pit China and Russia against each other.” Why is the dictator so worried about the meeting in Riyadh? Charter97.org spoke with Belarusian political scientist Dzmitry Balkunets about this:
— I'll start with the fact that Lukashenka is in a very difficult situation. There was no place for him in the negotiations, which he dreamed of. Not at the table, not under the table, nowhere or nearby. Therefore, now he is trying to come up with different explanations, new conspiracy theories, like the US will pit China against Russia or anyone else.
He can only visit the cowsheds, which has been his favorite pastime for 30 years. That is, Lukashenka remained at the same level he was at in the 1980s, when he headed the Haradzec state farm. Manure, cows, chickens, sheep — that's his level.
— Another fear that he voiced was the return of Western companies to the Russian market. Allegedly, they will push Belarusians out of there. How will this threaten the Belarusian economy?
— For more than three years, Lukashenka has been actively using the potential that opened up for entering the Russian market due to the fact that a number of American and European companies left it. This is especially true for the food sector. Belarus has greatly increased its export volumes. Of course, if any American companies return, this will create serious competition.
It is convenient for Lukashenka when there is no competition, which is what he did in Belarus. There are no Russian, European or foreign companies in the country. There is no competition.
Belarusians overpay for goods, often receiving low-quality products. Especially in a number of areas of consumer services and industry. There is no need to go far, Belarusian MAZ trucks catch fire every week. This indicates that there is no competition and the companies have no desire to move forward.
That is why Lukashenka is afraid that Belarus will have difficulties and will have to compete in the markets, but I think that this will not happen so quickly. I would also like to note that 30 years ago Belarus was approximately at the same level, for example, with Poland and a number of other countries in terms of GDP per capita. The gap, starting in 1994, has grown at least fourfold in favor of the same Poland. This indicates that the model that Lukashenka has been pursuing and is pursuing is extremely ineffective.
Belarus is in fourth place from the bottom among all European countries in terms of GDP per capita. It is one of the poorest countries in Europe today. Lukashenko regularly says that he allegedly ensured food security for Belarus. But this was done long before him.
Lukashenka is simply a real parasite. He takes and uses what was created before him. He hasn't created anything new. There's no point in expecting him to create anything. Belarus doesn't have the technology, the expertise, and most importantly, the ability to enter the largest markets for selling products. The only thing he's really worried about now is his own safety and life.