Zmitser Bandarenka: Belarusians paying price for their geopolitical faint-heartedness

Economic problems of Belarus are a consequence of the wrong geopolitical choice.

Such an opinion has been voiced by a coordinator of European Belarus civil campaign Zmitser Bandarenka in an interview to Radio Racyja. In this way the politician has commented on the visits of Alyaksandr Lukashenka and Nursultan Nazarbayev to Kyiv.

- Undoubtedly, we see a certain game of Ukrainian side in the relations with Russia in that, it’s the main thing. And Lukashenka together with Nazarbayev are also trying to negotiate the most favourable operational conditions in Putin’s Customs Union.

- And what is the essence of the game of the Ukrainian side?

- As it is discussed in Ukraine, it’s to try to put Putin at odds with his allies. It is heard from journalists, in the media, and from analysts. And we are seeing that in practical moves. Ukraine needs some victories, at least local ones. And this policy, which is warranted by the situation, seems successful to the Ukrainian authorities.

- Your comment was posted at charter97.org website, and there you note that the key topics during the visit of Lukashenka to Kyiv were the issues of Belarusian oil products’ deliveries…

- Yes, I sounded my version, and in fact we received confirmation later. Lukashenka let it slip that it was not connected with the trade turnover only, but then in the press-release of Petro Poroshenko press-service it was noted that the main thing discussed by them were energy issues. It is known that Ukraine needs Belarusian oil products, but prices are too high. In addition, we are witnessing oil price dropping at world markets. So it was the main topic of the day undoubtedly, as 75% or even 80% of Belarusian exports to Ukraine are oil products. The supplies could have been increased, but problems with payments occurred.

- At the same time, yesterday Lukashenka made agreements in Kyiv, tomorrow he will make agreements in Moscow. How successful this policy is?

- He is spinning like a top to find money, as his dream of making money out of illegal traffic between East and West, between Ukraine and Russia, ended in a catastrophe. The collapse of the Russian ruble and Ukrainian hryvnia was omitted to be taken into calculations. Great quantity of goods were bought in the West, we know that deliveries of milk powder, meat, fruits and vegetables from Poland had been increased manyfold. These goods had been overbought, and Russia placed a customs barrier, and as Myasnikovcih announced, in the best case the buying and selling broke even, but at many positions it went into the red. In addition, the financial pyramid built by Lukashenka over several years, is collapsing. Investors, banks, world firms are leaving the regions. That is why I predict that now Lukashenka will go to Aliyev as well. The situation reminds 2009, 2011, but now it is even more complicated.

- It is the most complicated for Belarusians themselves…

- Belarusians are paying the price for their faint-heartedness in making their geopolitical choice. As Belarusians had not defined their geopolitical choice, didn’t want to fight for it, now both the state and the people have to pay. It’s a logical chain, cause and effect.