Press Release, 4.09.2020

Photo: Lev Shlosberg, Deputy of the Pskov Regional Assembly from the Yabloko party

Pskov regional politicians discussed the formation of a reserve from the Russian security and law enforcement for Belarus and Vladimir Putin’s support for the actions of Alexander Lukashenko at the Echo of Moscow in Pskov radio station.

The opinions of the Pskov politicians traditionally divided. Some believeв that the presence of a special reserve of Russian security and law enforcement that can be sent to Belarus on the request of Alexander Lukashenko would prevent a repetition of the “Ukrainian scenario” in Belarus, as well as possible unrest on the border with Russia. Others did not support this decision of the Russian government to form a reserve and perceived it as support to dictator Alexander Lukashenko.

Lev Shlosberg, Chairman of the Pskov branch of Yabloko and MP of the Pskov Regional Assembly, said that he was categorically against any interference into the domestic affairs of Belarus. In his opinion, after the announcement of the formation of a reserve of law enforcement and security in Russia for actions on the territory of Belarus, the Belarusian society would be more radical to Russia, since for most of Belarus citizens Lukashenko was “an illegally elected and hated president”.

“This can lead not just to a war, but to a partisan war of the inhabitants of Belarus against the Russian law enforcement and Russian troops. It smells of terrible blood and the destruction of good-neighbourly relations between the peoples of Russia and Belarus, which have been developing for centuries.

Putin lives and operates in the political matrix of the 20th century, when the strength, authority and respect of the state were measured by the size of the territories it could affect. In the 21st century, this is not just an outdated approach, it is an approach posing a mortal threat. It brings about wars and smells like war in the very near future.

Russia is now losing the Belarus of tomorrow, because there is absolutely no doubt that Lukashenko will leave one way or another, and those politicians who will lead the country in the near future will remember Putin’s stance Putin, remember his support for Lukashenko, remember his statement that the law enforcement in the Republic of Belarus were operating within the framework of what was permissible,” Shlosberg said.

It should be noted that deputies of the regional legislative assemblies of the Russian Federation, including Lev Shlosberg, announced that they did not recognise the official results of the presidential elections in the Republic of Belarus and that they were in solidarity with the demands of the civil society of Belarus about the illegitimacy of Alexander Lukashenko presidency.