Russia not likely to give up its claims on Belarus – opposition politician

September 11, BPN. There is no reason to believe that Russia will voluntarily give up its claims on Belarus and just let it go even after Ukraine wins the war, Pavieł Łatuška, former diplomat and a member of the opposition’s Transition Cabinet, said at the 31st Economic Forum in Karpacz, Poland. 

“Changes are inevitable. The only question is what kind of changes,” the politician said, noting the treat of a complete loss of sovereignty and independence and annexation of Belarus by Russia.  According to Łatuška, such a scenario “has already been implemented for almost three decades and with the direct complicity of the Łukašenka regime” regardless of the events in Ukraine.

He described Łukašenka as “Putin’s puppet” and noted that only his removal from power would create opportunities for a different scenario, with Belarus as a free and democratic state.  According to Łatuška, this was one of the reasons behind the creation of the opposition Transition Cabinet that includes representatives of the security forces.

The politician urged international partners to support the sovereignty and independence of Belarus more actively and to use all possible tools to pressure the regime and support Belarusians, “because it may be too late for a change in Belarus after Ukraine’s victory, or it may cost too much.”