Belarus opposition summoned; Kremlin seen standing by weakened Lukashenko
MINSK/MOSCOW (Reuters) – Two main members of a newly shaped opposition council in Belarus had been questioned on Friday in a legal case over what President Alexander Lukashenko calls an try to seize energy, after almost two weeks of mass rallies in opposition to his 26-year rule.
Folks attend an opposition demonstration to protest in opposition to presidential election outcomes close to in Minsk, Belarus August 21, 2020. The placard reads: “Ladies do not give up. And also you?” REUTERS/Stringer NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.
Extra public figures, together with an Olympic athlete, got here out in opposition to Lukashenko, whose political challengers say he rigged an Aug. 9 election.
Within the newest act of protest, the streets of the capital Minsk had been paralysed on Friday by a motorists’ strike, with tons of of drivers honking horns and abruptly abandoning vehicles in visitors.
The loosening of Lukashenko’s grip poses a problem each for the Kremlin, decided to maintain its sway over its most loyal neighbour, and the West, which is sympathetic to a nascent pro-democracy motion however cautious of upsetting Russian intervention.
Two sources near the Kremlin advised Reuters President Vladimir Putin believes Lukashenko will most likely cling to energy for now, and is content material to let him sweat it out.
Lukashenko, who has repeatedly vowed to crush the unrest, insisted the disaster could be over quickly.
“That is my downside, which I ought to resolve, and we’re resolving it,” he advised employees at a state meals manufacturing facility named after the founding father of the Soviet KGB. “And consider me, within the coming days it will likely be resolved.”
In an indication of his dependence on Moscow, he additionally confirmed for the primary time that journalists had been introduced from Russia to workers state TV, the place employees abruptly stop final week in protest in opposition to what they described as orders to broadcast propaganda.
Two main members of the opposition Coordinating Council, Maksim Znak and Sarhey Dyleuski, had been accompanied by dozens of supporters as they arrived for questioning on the headquarters of the Investigative Committee in a legal case accusing the council of attempting to grab energy.
Znak, a lawyer, mentioned on getting into that he feared he is likely to be arrested. However when he emerged later, he mentioned he had had “productive discussions” and would get again to work.
The council was launched this week with the self-described goal of negotiating a switch of energy. It consists of an array of public figures, amongst them a Nobel Prize-winning writer and the ousted head of the nation’s important drama theatre.
The newest native hero to abandon Lukashenko was Vadim Devyatovsky, an Olympic silver medallist beforehand distinguished as a supporter, who wrote on Fb that Lukashenko was “not my president”.
NOT INTIMIDATED
A police crackdown doesn’t appear to have intimidated the protesters and opposition has unfold to incorporate strikes at state factories lengthy seen as bastions of assist for Lukashenko.
1000’s turned out Friday, and far bigger protests are anticipated over the weekend.
“I couldn’t sit at residence,” mentioned Tatyana, 45, a medic. “I’m not afraid. For those who keep residence, meaning you must dwell your entire life in worry.”
Lukashenko’s important opponent, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, has fled to neighbouring Lithuania, the place she has launched a gentle stream of video messages calling on her followers to stand up peacefully. On Friday she known as for extra employees to strike.
At her first public information convention since going into exile, the 37-year-old political novice famous that Moscow had not made contact.
Belarus has by far the closest political, financial and cultural ties to Moscow of any former Soviet state, which means Lukashenko’s fast destiny might be within the fingers of the Kremlin.
The borders between Belarus and NATO are seen as important for Russia’s defence technique, and the prospect of Moscow permitting a pro-Western authorities to emerge there all however inconceivable. However Lukashenko is seen in Moscow as erratic and truculent, and has lengthy had a tough private relationship with Putin.
The 2 sources near the Kremlin mentioned Moscow was completely content material to see him face difficulties.
“They’ll be pleased to attend some time and watch him battle a bit. They don’t like him a lot, however they nonetheless again him,” mentioned one of many sources, who usually speaks to senior authorities and Kremlin officers.
The second supply mentioned: “Lukashenko shall be critically weakened. You’ll be capable to make mincemeat out of him. Our guys will certainly use this.”
The European Union, which has rejected Lukashenko’s re-election, known as for the case in opposition to the opposition council to be dropped. However European officers are eager to avert a repeat of unrest six years in the past in neighbouring Ukraine, when a pro-Russian chief was toppled in an rebellion and Moscow intervened militarily, precipitating Europe’s deadliest ongoing battle.
That has meant a cautious strategy, together with reassuring Moscow that the West is just not attempting to pry Belarus from Russia’s orbit. “Belarus is just not Ukraine: the folks there aren’t in search of nearer ties with the EU,” a senior EU official advised Reuters.
Further reporting by Gabriella Baczynska in Brussels; Writing by Peter Graff; Enhancing by Catherine Evans
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