Moscow rushes Minsk into selling refineries

The privatization of Belarusian enterprises became the main topic of the negotiations between Medvedev and Miasnikovich in Moscow.

Currently, in the framework of the so-called union state the privatization of Integral, Hrodna-Azot, Peleng, MAP and Minsk Wheel tractor Plant is being considered. Negotiations over these enterprises have been going for two years already. It has not yet even been announced on what conditions Minsk is ready to concede them to Russia, Belsat TV channel reports.

According to a political observer Raman Jakauleuski, Lukashenka is ready to give up these enterprises at a certain price. However, there is often a different understanding in Moscow of how much Belarusian assets cost. That is why arguments keep going between the authorities of Belarus and Russia.

“This Mikhail Miasnikovich’s visit is just another stage in the bargaining. Neither Medvedev, nor Miasnikovich decide anything. Lukashenka has signed him up for an intelligence mission. I would like to remind of the specific character of the Belarusian government’s structure: there is a tandem Miasnikovich-Prakapovich there. They do not have power to decide anything. We all assume something, and Lukashenka is the one who decides”, - the expert notes.

In the meanwhile after speaking to the Russian Prime Minister Miasnikovich expressed the hope at a meeting with journalists that privatization processes will speed up soon. Dmitry Medvedev replied to that: “I believe that they must finish already”. Jakauleuski supposes that Putin will not wait for the end of the sale forever and Medvedev’s words are an ominous hint at the end of the privatization. The question remains of how it will be ended.  

“Lukashenka has one time schedule, and Putin has a different one. Time passes by, and the process of integration, better yet expansion of Russian capital to Belarus is growing stronger. This cannot go on forever. First of all Kremlin is trying to buy refineries in Mozyr and Navapolatsk. These pearls of Belarusian economy are, of course, the main goals for Russian capital”, - Raman Jakauleuski is sure.

The political observer believes that the end of the negotiations, which Medvedev spoke about at the meeting with Miasnikovich, will come soon.

“They must be ended by Putin. When will this happen? An informal summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization is scheduled for the end of this month. Probably something will happen there. I think, the situation with Sochi may repeat. How exactly – we do not know yet. But the people, who can actually decide something, are Putin and Lukashenka”, - the political observer believes.

Raman Jakauleuski turned attention to the visits of Russian oligarchs to Minsk, which had taken place before Miasnikovich’s trip to Moscow. He especially highlighted the importance of the negotiations with Igor Sechin. The political observer noted that Russia’s instruments for achieving the privatization of Belarusian enterprises remain the same – oil and loans.