The Kremlin spokesmen again addressed Nausėda: they saw the organization of the coup in Minsk

Unexpectedly, the virtual meeting of the presidents of Lithuania and Latvia on February 12 received a lot of attention on the propaganda portal Baltnews. Egil Levit and Gitan Nauseda succinctly discussed the problems of Belarus, among other topics. The COVID-19 vaccination process and issues related to the Astrava nuclear power plant were also discussed.

After the presidential meeting, the Kremlin media drew powerful conclusions. Lithuania and Latvia have been accused of allegedly planning and organizing new presidential elections in Belarus, thus forming a controlled government. It is true that no evidence was provided to support these claims.

Absurd accusations

The author begins by saying that Vilnius and Riga plan to hold new presidential elections in Belarus this year. It is alleged that it is much more important for Lithuania to have a weak and controlled government in Minsk for the stability of the neighboring state.

The narrative that has already become commonplace in the Kremlin media is also used, so Lithuania and Latvia prefer to solve their own problems. To substantiate his statements, the author of the text cites the BNS report on the last conversation between E. Levitas and G. Nausėda.

“Among other things, E. Levitas and G. Nausėda agreed to continue supporting efforts to hold free presidential elections in Belarus later this year, to prepare additional sanctions at the regional level for the Minsk regime for human rights violations and human rights violations. freedoms, “the quoted report said.

It is this quote that demonstrates the desire to carry out a coup or, even more so, the desire to establish a government obedient to the Baltic states in Minsk. The position that the elections held in Belarus in August 2020 were rigged and that new, free and democratic elections should be held in the country, is officially assumed by the entire European Union. Lithuania is no exception and was one of the first to assume that position since August last year.

Furthermore, the EU is demonstrating its support for the Belarusian opposition not only through symbolic gestures, such as the awarding of the prestigious Andrei Sakharov Prize to opponents of the regime, but also through sanctions against the country’s officials responsible for rights abuses. human and electoral. fraud.

The purpose of these sanctions is to put pressure on Belarusian political leaders to prevent further violence and repression, to release all political prisoners and other illegal detainees, and to engage in a genuine and inclusive national dialogue with the general public.

It is the process of peaceful democratization that accompanies Lithuania’s economic aid to Belarus (which the EU is ready to provide) that it supports. This last process was discussed with the leader of neighboring Latvia by President G. Nausėda. Kremlin spokesmen did not explain what this had to do with the desire to carry out coups or establish a humble government in Lithuania in Minsk.

Praise the experience of A. Lukashenko

According to the author, the Baltic states and Poland are aware of their limited possibilities to act alone (ie without the support of the European Union partners). Attempts are being made to downplay E. Levitas and G. Nausėdas because they have no political experience, a strong back.

So how can the Baltic states simultaneously try to change the government in Minsk on their own, or even more so, establish people in their positions of power, if the author himself points out that action in Belarus requires the support of the EU? This somewhat refutes the author’s statements about the unilateral goals of Vilnius and Riga, or even more so any unilateral action.

In opposition to the presidents of Lithuania and Latvia, the author presents the leader of Belarus, Aliaksandr Lukashenko. Lukashenko is said to have learned from royal foreign policy authorities such as Helmut Kohl, Gerhard Schroder or Angela Merkel during his 26 years in office. Chernikov says that Lukashenko could easily change the political systems in neighboring countries (that is, the Baltic states) if he wanted to.

It is true that Mr. Lukashenko is unlikely to listen to one of his “teachers” at this time, Mr. Merkel. The author of the article’s statement that Lukashenko feels very good in his country, looking at the latest polls in Belarusian society, does not seem accurate either.

In early February, the German Chancellor not only once again condemned the repression in Belarus and called for sanctions against all those who contribute to human rights violations in the country. He also announced that Germany was preparing a comprehensive humanitarian aid package for Belarusians, which would include a visa facilitation mechanism and scholarships for studies in Germany, as well as support for the country’s independent media.

According to a recent poll by Belarusian Chatham House, just over 60 percent of Belarusians believe the presidential election was rigged. Almost 60 percent support peaceful protests and up to 70 percent are in favor of the country’s government negotiating with the protesters. More than clear signals, which unfortunately the author silences.

Unreliable opposition?

The text also seeks to take advantage of the scandal over the sanctions imposed on the Druskininkai “Belarus” sanatorium run by the Board of Presidential Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, when several hundred Lithuanians working in the sanatorium were affected by the sanctions imposed.

This latest painful and complicated case is often featured in the Russian media as proof of the failure of Lithuania’s policy towards Belarus. This story, according to the latest media reports, has now been transferred to the courts of the country.

The author of the Baltnews article claims that the Belarusian opposition provides unreliable information to Lithuanian officials, as only a peer institution, namely the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, can provide real and reliable information.

In fact, there are many independent civil and public organizations, movements and media in the Belarusian opposition.

Although it is often tried to say that the majority of these organizations work abroad, despite the repression of the regime that still continues these days, most of the organizations united under the umbrella of the democratic opposition work in Belarus itself. . Proof of this are the continuous arrests of activists from opposition organizations.

The diversity of the democratic opposition in Belarus is also well demonstrated by the list of the most prominent opponents named during the Sakharov Prize. The list includes long-time opposition figures Alesius Bialiackis and Mikola Statkevičius, opposition leaders Sviatlana Cichanouskaja and Maryja Kalesnikava, who emerged in the last presidential elections, Sciapan Pucila, the creator of the NEXTA project area activists.