Belarus not losing independence because of rapprochement with Russia – envoy

February 12, Pozirk. Belarus’ rapprochement with Russia does not mean that the former is losing its independence, Belarusian Ambassador Dźmitryj Krutoj told the ONT TV channel in an interview broadcast on Sunday evening.

The Union State treaty defines a “common economic area” as the “main first goal,” he noted.

“All that we are doing now is an attempt to construct this area and create equal conditions for our manufacturers,” the diplomat said, describing concerns about the loss of Belarus’ independence as “an obsolete mantra” and “absolute nonsense.”

Krutoj noted that in the past he had held numerous talks “with political circles of Western Europe,” offering them to set up businesses in Belarus. However, all investment projects failed as potential investors were primarily interested in access to the Russian market, he added.

The West sounds alarm over the loss of sovereignty as Belarus is trying to gain the access by building a common economic area with Russia, he said.

Minsk’s relations with Western countries deteriorated after the contested 2020 presidential election and crackdown on mass protests. Democratic countries sanctioned the government and several large state-run companies for alleged human rights abuse.