Russian Ambassador Turns into Belarusian Conspirator :: Charter'97 :: News

Russian ambassador in the Republic of Belarus set up in Minsk a “Club of business people” (of closed type). That’s a quite extraordinary move on part of the head of Russia’s diplomatic mission, who took up the post less than a year ago. His predecessors have previously only visited official cabinets and enjoyed random meetings with Alexander Lukashenko and his closest encirclement in the presidential Drozdy residence.

“NG” reports that there have already been held a few club’s confidential meetings, to which they invited heads of Russian companies’ representatives in Belarus. They assemble in one of the elite Minsk restaurants, which belongs to the Russian investors. Blokhin regularly reports before the club’s members on the work accomplished on the protection of Russian business interests and also informs them about perspectives of Russian capital’s promotion in the republic. It is widely believed that this year will culminate privatization of Belarusian companies by foreigners. As Vladimir Putin had been numerously hinted by Lukashenko, Russians will enjoy preferences in the matter.

No secret, Blokhin’s candidacy as of former deputy-democrat wasn’t too welcomed by Lukashenko back in the past. The new Russian ambassador had to wait for reception for too long (that is official agreement on his arrival). Finally, when he came to Minsk, the Belarusian president, contrary to the long-established tradition, didn’t host a personal meeting with him. Blokhin’s credentials have been accepted along with the ambassadors’ of some remote countries.

Blokhin oftentimes travels to the regions, meeting not only with local nomenclature but also with representatives of diverse NGOs. No doubt, his contacts are closely tracked down by the Belarusian special services. Local KGB agents even suspect that some scandalous materials on the possible scenarios of the future “Belarus without Lukashenko” plot, allegedly developed by the Russian special services’ analysts, had been delivered to the independent press not without Russian embassy’s assistance in order to exert psychological pressure on the government.

The man’s friendly chats at the US ambassador’s house in Belarus, during which they raise the problem of political disappearances in the country, provoke real panicking among the leaders of the Belarusian political Olympus. In this sense Moscow may be well suspected of keeping up close relations with the official Washington and even harboring plans of confronting Lukashenko’s regime, seeking to get the incumbent replaced by someone more controllable and predictable. No other interpretations of what is going on are considered by Minsk.