Moscow masters new forms of impact on society, aristoi and governing body of Belarus.



On November 23 in Barvikha located near Moscow a meeting of Russian president and Belarusian journalists took place, which was the first in a modern history. What was it? A message to Belarusian authorities, a warning or something else?

According to the words of the participant of this meeting with Russian president, chief-editor of an independent weekly publication “Novy Chas” Aleksey Korol, “these were the answers of a normal man keeping in mind that this was a meeting with journalists. The answers were adequate, dynamic and easy”. “The answers sounded honestly and in the same time thoughtfully, - stressed Aleksey Korol. – And there also was an unexpected reaction in the answers considering the fact that every word will be heard in the informational area of the two countries, and not only these two countries. Medvedev said about the reason of making this meeting with Belarusian journalists: “It’s an idea made in heaven – it’s all in a day’s work”. He said that it was a mistake of the Russian side that they didn’t organize such meetings with Belarusian journalists. Aleksandr Lukashenko organized and did it right. Now, according to the words of Medvedev this vacuum will be filled and such meetings will become permanent. One journalist, the representative of a Belarusian state mass media asked about Medvedev’s meeting with the representatives of independent mass media and his forthcoming meetings with Belarusian independent politicians. Russian president answered that it’s a normal practice; it’s all in a day’s work that heads of other countries come to Russia and meet with opposition politicians. According to the words of Medvedev Russia will practice the same approach to have an all-round opinion about the situation in Belarus”. Aleksey Korol supposes that the meeting with Belarusian journalists form both state and independent mass media itself was a message to Belarusian authorities. “Dmitry Medvedev noted that this was an answer to the actions of Aleksandr Lukashenko who keeps on inviting Russian journalists to Belarus. Moreover, the entry list was special - 50õ50 – seven journalists – representatives of state mass media and seven journalists – representatives of independent mass media. And that’s how they were seated: one journalist from the state mass media and one from independent one”. The official reason of the meeting according to the chief-editor of “Novy Chas” was the 10th anniversary of the Union State of Russia and Belarus. There were also two reasons in the undertone – a probable visit to Belarus and Custom Union. As explained by Medvedev, this alliance will be useful to all the three countries which form it. And Russian president is sure that even it will be more useful for Belarus and Kazakhstan that for Russia. According to Medvedev Russia would easily participate in WTO if there isn’t this bond in Custom Union, - noted Aleksey Korol. – Relations between Russia and Belarus are special for Medvedev and that’s why Union State shouldn’t be dismissed. But the relations within this state must be filled with new content. But Medvedev didn’t mention with what content”. Member of Soym of BNF Party Vincuk Viachorka believes that this meeting with Belarusian journalists is a propaganda game of Lukashenko and Medvedev. “The regimes are mutually compatible, and they borrow different methods one from another, - supposes the politician. – I think that using this method the goal of Medvedev was to show Lukashenko his place and together with this to find a better that Lukashenko viewer in Belarus”. Together with this Vincuk Viachorka doesn’t think that the meeting with Belarusian journalists was organized spite acting head of Russian government Vladimir Putin. “I don’t think that in the nearest future we will have the opportunity to see separation of the Russian Imperial two-headed eagle”, - stressed Vincuk Viachorka. This was a preventive warning to Lukashenko that Russia can also use this “armor” as Belarusian president uses against Kremlin, by inviting Belarusian journalists, - thinks political analyst Valery Karbalievich. – This was a certain message to Belarusian society and Belarusian aristoi. And the message was that Russia helps Belarus a lot, sponsors the country and Belarus in its turn has certain liabilities to Russia which must be repaid in the framework of CSTO and Custom Union. It’s not humanitarian supplies; this must be somehow worked off. And this situation was a demonstration of a new weapon of Russian authorities which can be applied with a more knockdown ability than it was done now. This time everything was very correct, neat and cautious, but Medvedev showed that it can be applied in a different way. Moscow masters new forms of impact on society, aristoi and governing body of Belarus”.


Valery Karbalievich doesn’t deny the fact that during this meeting with Belarusian journalists Medvedev in fact went to bat for his predecessor Putin. “It was said quite clear that Lukashenko’s attempt to ruin Moscow duumvirate and to oppose “good” Medvedev to “bad” Putin didn’t work and it was very important that exactly Medvedev not Putin showed this to Lukashenko. It was quite a transparent answer to Lukashenko’s attack against Putin during the meeting of Belarusian president and Russian journalists in Minsk”.


Gennady LOGINOV