A friend in need. Russia on the protests in Belarus. OSW Commentary 2020-08-20.
Journal: Archive of European Integration (AEI) (University of Pittsburgh)
Year: 2020

Due to the dynamic and surprising development of events in Belarus, Russia’s previous tactic –weakening Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s position in order to force further integration with Russia – has had to change. Moscow’s restrained public reaction to the result of the Belarusian elections and Lukashenka’s appeals for help may suggest that in the face of mass protests, the wave of strikes and the initial signs that the ruling elite in Belarus is starting to break up, the Kremlin is considering the va