{"id":11357,"date":"2022-02-20T01:37:56","date_gmt":"2022-02-19T22:37:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/api.pozirk.online\/longreads\/minsk-not-ready-to-back-its-peaceful-dreams-with-concrete-action\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:29:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:29:13","slug":"minsk-not-ready-to-back-its-peaceful-dreams-with-concrete-action","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/11357\/","title":{"rendered":"Minsk not ready to back its peaceful dreams with concrete action"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n By Aliaksandr Klasko\u016dski, BPN<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n Uladzimer Makiej, Belarus\u2019 foreign minister, indicated on February 16 that Belarus is interested in stronger ties with the West but Minsk is unwilling to take any practical steps to achieve that goal.<\/b>\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Like Aliaksandr Luka\u0161enka, Makiej is reluctant to discuss the reasons for tension with the West after the 2020 presidential election (a brutal crackdown on protests against alleged election fraud).\n<\/p>\n

Makiej shifts blame to West<\/span> <\/h2>\n

\n\t Makiej recalled at the news conference that Belarus had come up with a proposal for launching a security and confidence-building process called Helsinki 2 and other brilliant ideas.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The West froze ties with Belarus after Minsk had launched a brutal crackdown on protesters who challenged Aliaksandr Luka\u0161enka\u2019s disputed re-election. Makiej now pretends to have forgotten it. He blamed the tension on \u201cthe decompression of the brain tunic of Western politicians, as a result of which they misunderstand the situation.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\t He also accused the West of showboating Belarus sanctions to \u201cshow off its power and geopolitical weight.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\t He pretended to be unaware of the country\u2019s nearly 2,000 political prisoners. The foreign minister avoids discussing the causes of the country\u2019s political crisis that is at the core of a crisis in Minsk\u2019s foreign policy.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Clearly, he can do no more than he can. His rhetoric is aligned with Aliaksandr Luka\u0161enka\u2019s commands. The Belarusian ruler does not want to engage with the West. He does not plan to stop the crackdown, release the political prisoners and allow free media to operate in the country.\n<\/p>\n

Zero tolerance of criticism<\/span> <\/h2>\n

\n\t In reply to a question from a Narodnaja Volia journalist about media freedom, Makiej accused media and journalists of demonizing authorities instead of providing unbiased coverage. \u201cA number of media organizations have taken an overt anti-government stance and played the role of opposition ideologists \u2013 this is absolutely unacceptable,\u201d he said. \u201cWe will not have any dialogue with those who pursue an anti-state policy and call for sanctions.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\t His accusations were way off the mark. Media targeted by the authorities have not called for sanctions. Free media published different opinions in contrast to state-controlled media that provide one-sided coverage. Journalists cannot write dry articles or avoid using passionate quotes. Criticism of the government is an important function of the media in democratic countries that helps ensure its accountability. Opposition politicians also have the right to voice opinions through the media. Moreover, the Belarusian constitution guarantees freedom of opinions, convictions and the right to free expression.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Shocked by 2020 protests, authorities simply decided to silence all critics. Luka\u0161enka has publicly called that effort a cleansing operation. Based on the foreign minister\u2019s remarks, the government does not plan to change its media policy.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Article 4 of the current constitution provides that \u201cdemocracy in the Republic of Belarus is exercised on the basis of diverse political institutions, ideologies and opinions.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Officials rewrote the article in the draft new constitution that is to be put to a referendum on February 27. It says that \u201cdemocracy in the Republic of Belarus is exercised on the basis of the ideology of the Belarusian state as well as diverse political institutions and opinions.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\t \u201cA state ideology is characteristic of totalitarian regimes. Control of society\u2019s spiritual life is a key sign of totalitarianism,\u201d said Valieryj Karbalievi\u010d, a Belarusian political analyst.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t It is not a surprise that Western politicians are struggling to understand Belarusian officials.\n<\/p>\n

Belarus tied to Moscow chariot<\/span> <\/h2>\n

\n\t Makiej\u2019s comments in reply to the question whether Belarus had an arrangement to ship potash fertilizers through Russia were less than sure-footed. The Belarusian authorities seem to be ill-prepared for the Lithuanian Railway\u2019s decision to terminate its contract with Belarus.  \n<\/p>\n

\n\t In another setback, Ukraine has banned the transportation of Belarusian potash fertilizers by rail. The Belarusian foreign minister promised an equivalent response but would not elaborate. A trade war with Ukraine may cause heavy losses to Belarus, so Minsk is likely to limit its response to hostile rhetoric.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Makiej said that not a single Russian soldier and not a single piece of Russian equipment will stay in Belarus after the ongoing exercise, Allied Resolve 2022. Luka\u0161enka said the next day that Russian troops will stay in Belarus as long as needed, adding that it was his business with Vladimir Putin.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The Luka\u0161enka regime relies on Russian support for survival. For this reason, Makiej\u2019s dream of multiple pivots, stability and security in the region are unlikely to come true.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Aliaksandr Klasko\u016dski, BPN Uladzimer Makiej, Belarus\u2019 foreign minister, indicated on February 16 that Belarus is interested in stronger ties with the West but Minsk is unwilling to take any practical steps to achieve that goal. Like Aliaksandr Luka\u0161enka, Makiej is reluctant to discuss the reasons for tension with the West after the 2020 presidential […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":0,"template":"","rubric":[22],"class_list":["post-11357","longreads","type-longreads","status-publish","hentry","rubric-theviewer"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMinsk not ready to back its peaceful dreams with concrete action | Pozirk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"By Aliaksandr Klasko\u016dski, BPN Uladzimer Makiej, Belarus\u2019 foreign minister, indicated on February 16 that Belarus is interested in stronger ties with the\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/11357\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Minsk not ready to 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