{"id":102383,"date":"2024-08-28T10:05:44","date_gmt":"2024-08-28T07:05:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/102383\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T13:35:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T13:35:32","slug":"vatican-route-to-europe-closed-for-lukasenka","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/102383\/","title":{"rendered":"Vatican route to Europe closed for \u0141uka\u0161enka"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At the August 23 meeting with Apostolic Nuncio Ante Jozi\u0107 in Minsk, Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka portrayed himself as a peacemaker, claiming that Minsk and the Vatican hold similar views on European security and the Russian-Ukrainian war. He promotes the Kremlin’s version of “security,” and the Vatican is well aware of it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n \"\"\n
\n
\n\n Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka and Pope Francis exchanging gifts in Vatican City on May 21, 2016\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (\u0141uka\u0161enka's press office)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka a war ally and peacemaker<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka often changes his political positions. In an interview with Rossiya <\/em>in mid-August, he cast himself as a loyal ally of Moscow, essentially accepting the role of a co-aggressor, while on August 23 he positioned himself as a peacemaker, comparing himself to the Pope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his statements, \u0141uka\u0161enka has often urged Kyiv to make peace with Moscow on its terms, while claiming to be concerned about the region\u2019s security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connections to Vatican open important doors<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka said he recalled positively his meetings with Roman Catholic Church leaders. In the past, Minsk managed to mend fences with Europe by using its connections with the Holy See.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In April 2009, \u0141uka\u0161enka met with the pope and had dinner with the then-Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi in Rome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian government then shifted its diplomatic energies to the West amid sour relations with Moscow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although \u0141uka\u0161enka invited the pope to visit Belarus, the Russian Orthodox Church, which sees Belarus as its canonical territory, would not give its permission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyway, the Belarusian strongman\u2019s trip to the Vatican marked the beginning of a diplomatic thaw between Belarus and the European Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before the 2010 presidential election, \u0141uka\u0161enka met with the foreign ministers of Poland and Germany, who offered EU aid in exchange for fair elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the rapprochement stalled after a crackdown on protesters against election fraud and arrests of opposition politicians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsk made a new effort to improve ties with the EU in 2016, after \u0141uka\u0161enka met with Pope Francis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The EU suspended sanctions against \u0141uka\u0161enka and 169 officials following the 2015 presidential poll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The thaw lasted until 2020, when the Belarusian ruler took harsh measures to suppress massive protests against alleged election fraud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Political prisoner release to attract West\u2019s attention<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Analysts have noted that \u0141uka\u0161enka is once again sending out some signals to the West by releasing political prisoners in small numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nevertheless, this measure is insufficient. Only a few dozen individuals have been freed so far, primarily those who are seriously ill or were nearing the end of their sentences. \u0141uka\u0161enka is obviously not planning a mass political amnesty, with prominent figures remaining behind bars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is trying to improve his image in society and the West, but he will not stop the repression that has also affected Catholics, both faithful and clergy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He will always prioritize the preservation of his system over liberalization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, he seems uncomfortable with his dependence on Moscow and may be looking to a post-war future, as evidenced by the appointment of Maksim Ry\u017eanko\u016d as foreign minister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

West not ready for a thaw<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Diplomatic overtures will change Western politicians\u2019 attitude to \u0141uka\u0161enka as the West is focused on the Russian war against Ukraine, and its sanctions are mostly related to it. The Belarusian leader is perceived as a co-aggressor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka severely criticized European politicians in the interview with Rossiya<\/em>, but was more restrained when he spoke with Jozi\u0107.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He noted that he did not see any leaders in Europe guided by interests of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Western diplomats see no preconditions for dialogue and doubt that \u0141uka\u0161enka can act independently of Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsk faces significant obstacles in its cautious attempt to re-establish contacts with Europe with \u0141uka\u0161enka’s bad reputation being the biggest one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A meeting with the pope is currently out of the question. A repeat of the 2009 and 2016 successes is unlikely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also read:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsk, Vatican have similar views on war in Ukraine \u2013 \u0141uka\u0161enka<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At the August 23 meeting with Apostolic Nuncio Ante Jozi\u0107 in Minsk, Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka portrayed himself as a peacemaker, claiming that Minsk and the Vatican hold similar views on European security and the Russian-Ukrainian war. He promotes the Kremlin’s version of “security,” and the Vatican is well aware of it. \u0141uka\u0161enka a war ally and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":87,"featured_media":101832,"template":"","rubric":[24],"class_list":["post-102383","longreads","type-longreads","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","rubric-theviewer"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nVatican route to Europe closed for \u0141uka\u0161enka | Pozirk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"At the August 23 meeting with Apostolic Nuncio Ante Jozi\u0107 in Minsk, Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka portrayed himself as a peacemaker, claiming that Minsk and the\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/102383\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" 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