Łukašenka, Putin play up their alliance, Cichanoŭskaja says Belarusians do not need it

April 2, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka and Russian President Vladimir Putin have issued upbeat statements today as Minsk and Moscow to mark the Day of Unity of the Peoples of Belarus and Russia.
The common educational, informational, cultural space allows every citizen of Belarus and Russia to feel a part “our common Fatherland,” Alaksandar Łukašenka said on the 28th anniversary of a treaty that initiated the integration process.
Minsk and Moscow are “building their future together,” relying on “mutual trust and support,” the Belarusian ruler’s press office said in an official message.
Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja criticized her country’s strong ties with Russia, noting that her country does not need unions, which cause deaths and the erosion of national identity.
“The Łukašenka regime has isolated Belarus from the world – clinging to Moscow as its last lifeline. Every step toward Putin is a step toward erasing our sovereignty,” she stressed on X.
The Union State treaty between Belarus and Russia entered into force in January 2000 after ratification by the parliaments of the two countries. The deal is of unlimited duration.
In 2018, Russia launched an upgrade of the Union State to bind the two countries together.
In November 2021, Minsk and Moscow signed 28 Union State programs focusing on macroeconomic, industrial and agricultural policies, tax and customs harmonization and a common energy market.
Last year, Łukašenka and Putin approved a security deal that consolidated Belarus as Russia’s protectorate. Moscow is committed to defend the Union State with “all available forces and means,” including Russian tactical nuclear weapons ostensibly stationed in Belarus.
More on the subject:
Belarus-Russia Unity Day: a celebration of dependence, not national pride
- EconomyBelarus’ employment rate declines 1.3 percent in Q1The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyFIBA authorizes Belarus U21 team to compete in Youth Nations LeagueThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsEU sanctions Belarusian Oil Company, Belarus-China defense companyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyLithuanian man arrested after picking up Belarusian cigarettes at border fenceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsLatvia accounts for 70 percent of all irregular Belarus-EU crossings since JanuaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsEuropean General Court rules some sanctions on businessman Šaŭcoŭ unlawfulThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Security, SocietyViciebsk police to hold command staff exercise on FridayThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsZelensky warns against deeper Belarus involvement in Russia’s war on UkraineThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsSix groups running for opposition Coordination Council branded “extremist”The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- EconomyRubel keeps rising against US dollar, euro, yuanThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Society
- PoliticsSeimas extends national sanctions against Russia, BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyBelarus’ opposition seeks cooperation agreement with Lithuania’s SeimasThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBelarus to draft about 10,000 in the army this springThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus puts six more exiled activists on trial in their absenceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- SocietyInterior minister: law enforcers monitoring all sectors for corruptionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyŁatuška raises pension access problems for Belarusian exiles at CoE levelThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyMinsk and Smalavičy rank in top five Belarusian cities – studyThe material is available only to POZIRK+


