SVT: Russia allows Lukashenko to stay in power

Currently, mass demonstrations against current President Alexander Lukashenko continue in Belarus. However, Lukashenko himself seems to remain in power, in which official Moscow will help him. This opinion was expressed on the air of the SVT channel by the head of the Russian Policy Research Department at the Swedish Institute for Defense Studies, Jacob Hedenskug. Follow the development of events in the broadcast: Belarus is shaken by protests all the news Follow the development of events in the broadcast: Belarus is shaken by protests all the news "In the Belarusian case, Western countries will not challenge Russia, which is a nuclear power, Hedenskug believes. Recall, on August 27, in an interview with Russia, President Vladimir Putin announced the request of the Belarusian leader to form a certain reserve of law enforcement officers, which was done. But we also agreed that it will not be used until the situation gets out of control, until extremist elements, hiding behind political slogans, cross certain borders, go to robbery, begin to try to seize administrative buildings, the head of state added. After the election and unrest, there were rumors that Russia was considering different alternatives: to allow Lukashenko to stay or try to replace him with some more obedient person more loyal to Russia, Hedenskug said. In his opinion, everything indicates that Lukashenko, in order to receive direct support from Russia, was forced to cede several points of ongoing integration negotiations within the Union State: There is an agreement of 1999 on the creation of a Union State between Russia and Belarus. Since 2015, Russia has increased pressure in the negotiations, and everything indicates that when they (Putin and Lukashenko. approx. News agency) met in December last year, Lukashenko received an ultimatum, which he refused to accept, but perhaps now he was forced to agree. In particular, according to Hedenskug, the ultimatum includes energy issues, namely oil and gas, as well as the fact that Russia wants to open an air base in Belarus, to which Lukashenko refused to give his consent. However, he emphasizes that now Lukashenko has no chance. It is possible that Lukashenko was even forced to agree that Belarus would actually become part of the Russian Federation, but with formal independence. Lukashenko may remain in power, but in practice decisions will be made in Moscow. Lukashenko will be Putin's puppet, Hedenskug said. As for the Western countries, the expert made it clear that there would be no military confrontation with Russia. However, the legal mechanism, that is, sanctions, will be applied.
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