The entire article is just a collection of idle musings based on the “open source data”, trying to either wag a finger disapprovingly or give an “advice” to the head of the country, who has access to the detailed classified information.
That makes this article, Professor, good for your “Sense of Self-Importance” (rus. ЧСВ) – after all, you are braving the Empyreans of the global politics and international relations, casting yourself as “equal” to the geopolitical movers and shakers. In reality you lack both regional expertise and insider’s access to produce anything but ambigious and very general content. This passage by you:
“Thus, there are advantages to be had in keeping options open and in maintaining good relations with Belarus’ opposition.”
would be especially funny for anyone with even a bit of knowledge about Belorussian political life.
Russia has plans for what should happen after Lukashenko and who might succeed him. It would be another “regime insider”. Full stop. No need for fanciful dreams and thinly veiled passive-aggressive “advices” for the government of Russia.
“The short term advantage of standing by his side must be measured against the long term advantages of fostering good relations with the Belarusian people”
Once again – pure hypocrisy and BS, especially coming from a liberal like you. You don’t care about Belarusian people, otherwise you’d know why the absolute majority of them DO support Lukashenko and why they are doing it. Your strata derived bias prevents you from either seeing it or saying out loud.
P.S. What I find much more interesting, is that you once again going for the “Kremlin funded” ™ RT to reach out wider readership. I understand that, like in a dance, this requires two – RT to make and offer and you to accept it/volunteer with an initiative.
I’m looking forward to a day, when you will be denying (three times) any and all connections with the “Kremlin propaganda outlet”.
“While there is no reason to believe that Lukashenko’s main opponent, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, is ill-disposed to Russia, and thus few grounds for fearing that a revolution in Belarus will pull that country out of Russia’s orbit and into that of NATO or the European Union, it seems that the Kremlin would rather not take the chance.”
🙂
In the interview to the Euro Radio FM, presidential candidate from the “united opposition” S. Tykhanovskaya says, that her Belorussia does not need neither integration nor the Union State with Russia. That she does not need “pro-Russian electorate”. At the same time, she said that her country must “look everywhere” for international partners. Prior to elections, she called upon Angela Merkel to “reign in” Lukashenko. After the election, she ran away to the EU member state of Lithuania.
[…]
So, when 3 Anglos from cohort of the professional Russia Watchers – Shaun “I HATE DILL” Walker of The Guardian infamy, former UK’s ambassador to Belarus Nigel Gould-Davies, who since his fall from grace back then did nothing of note (save this recent opinion piece in The National Interest of all places), and you, Professor Robinson – say the same damned thing (“opposition is not anti-Russian, honest!”), it means that either:
1) All 3 of said Anglos are professionally incompetent.
OR
2) The Western consensus would like Russia to abandon Lukashenko and support their puppets.
After all, what’s yet another lie if it might help you score points in the Great Game?
I feel somewhat indirectly addressed as German via Merkel-the -political-force-controlling Europe (irony alert) At the same time, she said that her country must “look everywhere” for international partners. Prior to elections, she called upon Angela Merkel to “reign in” Lukashenko. After the election, she ran away to the EU member state of Lithuania.
Can you give me a link? It was reported in Russia but may not have been reported elsewhere? Ok, ok. I see … She called on her via the most widespread yellow press tabloid we have in Germany. What a great idea to address our chancellor.
Tikhanovskaya in an interview with the Bild newspaper asked Merkel to contact the Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.
“Mrs. Merkel, contact Lukashenka. Tell him we don’t want war. All we want is fair elections, ”Tikhanovskaya said.
This is a colour revolution supported by the EU and the USA.
Just like in Ukraine same pattern – same gullible children and youths and lying politicians who want to be rich from EU grants and don’t give a damn about the people.
Belarus will end up like Ukraine if not worse as their economy is 100% supported by Russia.
Any politician who talks about “other partners” and rejects Russia is a dangerous fool and a liar.
Ukraine went down this road and found no market for their goods and are now in major -debt – surviving on loans . Hey have lost any sovereignty they had.
Politicians in Belarus need to face the reality about their economy and geography – they are only of interest as a tool against Russia. No one cares about Belarus economy it’s people etc
Look at the example Armenia had an uprising but can’t stray far from Russia as they are in between Azerbaijan and Turkey!!! They recognised the reality of their economy and geography
On that note, I just saw this piece from VZGLIAD, it lays out how, on the oil front, Lukashenko became a victim of his own games.
Quick summary: In trying to prove to Russia how he should not be taken for granted as a customer, Luka “diversified” by purchasing a tank of American oil (which, by the way, is of inferior quality and totally unsuited to the Belorussian infrastructure, but Luka was simply proving a point by buying it).
Then the punchline to this joke: Americans are now reproving him for his bad character and threatening with sanctions, including withdrawing any further oil shipments they promised.
Meanwhile, the writer of this piece quotes Russian experts to the effect that Russia would actually be BETTER OFF not selling their oil to Belorussia, since they can make more $$$ selling it to other countries. Belorussia being sort of a charity case in terms of the export tariffs and so on.
So, once again, Luka caught in a web of his own devising.
Sucks to be him.
And on the language front: Since it is part of my self-defined “job” to track egregious cases of American borrowings polluting the glorious Russian language:
Ladies and gentlemen: I give you лавстори – can you guess what it means?
“Love story!” I saw it for the first time in this piece.
As if Russia doesn’t have perfectly adequate words for both “love” and “story” !
I swear it will soon come to the point where all it takes to speak Russian is just speak in American, but with a thick Slavic accent.
IRRUSSIANALITY 
The entire article is just a collection of idle musings based on the “open source data”, trying to either wag a finger disapprovingly or give an “advice” to the head of the country, who has access to the detailed classified information.
That makes this article, Professor, good for your “Sense of Self-Importance” (rus. ЧСВ) – after all, you are braving the Empyreans of the global politics and international relations, casting yourself as “equal” to the geopolitical movers and shakers. In reality you lack both regional expertise and insider’s access to produce anything but ambigious and very general content. This passage by you:
“Thus, there are advantages to be had in keeping options open and in maintaining good relations with Belarus’ opposition.”
would be especially funny for anyone with even a bit of knowledge about Belorussian political life.
Russia has plans for what should happen after Lukashenko and who might succeed him. It would be another “regime insider”. Full stop. No need for fanciful dreams and thinly veiled passive-aggressive “advices” for the government of Russia.
“The short term advantage of standing by his side must be measured against the long term advantages of fostering good relations with the Belarusian people”
Once again – pure hypocrisy and BS, especially coming from a liberal like you. You don’t care about Belarusian people, otherwise you’d know why the absolute majority of them DO support Lukashenko and why they are doing it. Your strata derived bias prevents you from either seeing it or saying out loud.
P.S. What I find much more interesting, is that you once again going for the “Kremlin funded” ™ RT to reach out wider readership. I understand that, like in a dance, this requires two – RT to make and offer and you to accept it/volunteer with an initiative.
I’m looking forward to a day, when you will be denying (three times) any and all connections with the “Kremlin propaganda outlet”.
LikeLike
Oh, and one more thing:
“While there is no reason to believe that Lukashenko’s main opponent, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, is ill-disposed to Russia, and thus few grounds for fearing that a revolution in Belarus will pull that country out of Russia’s orbit and into that of NATO or the European Union, it seems that the Kremlin would rather not take the chance.”
🙂
In the interview to the Euro Radio FM, presidential candidate from the “united opposition” S. Tykhanovskaya says, that her Belorussia does not need neither integration nor the Union State with Russia. That she does not need “pro-Russian electorate”. At the same time, she said that her country must “look everywhere” for international partners. Prior to elections, she called upon Angela Merkel to “reign in” Lukashenko. After the election, she ran away to the EU member state of Lithuania.
[…]
So, when 3 Anglos from cohort of the professional Russia Watchers – Shaun “I HATE DILL” Walker of The Guardian infamy, former UK’s ambassador to Belarus Nigel Gould-Davies, who since his fall from grace back then did nothing of note (save this recent opinion piece in The National Interest of all places), and you, Professor Robinson – say the same damned thing (“opposition is not anti-Russian, honest!”), it means that either:
1) All 3 of said Anglos are professionally incompetent.
OR
2) The Western consensus would like Russia to abandon Lukashenko and support their puppets.
After all, what’s yet another lie if it might help you score points in the Great Game?
LikeLike
I feel somewhat indirectly addressed as German via Merkel-the -political-force-controlling Europe (irony alert)
At the same time, she said that her country must “look everywhere” for international partners. Prior to elections, she called upon Angela Merkel to “reign in” Lukashenko. After the election, she ran away to the EU member state of Lithuania.
Can you give me a link? It was reported in Russia but may not have been reported elsewhere? Ok, ok. I see … She called on her via the most widespread yellow press tabloid we have in Germany. What a great idea to address our chancellor.
Tikhanovskaya in an interview with the Bild newspaper asked Merkel to contact the Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.
“Mrs. Merkel, contact Lukashenka. Tell him we don’t want war. All we want is fair elections, ”Tikhanovskaya said.
LikeLike
This is a colour revolution supported by the EU and the USA.
Just like in Ukraine same pattern – same gullible children and youths and lying politicians who want to be rich from EU grants and don’t give a damn about the people.
Belarus will end up like Ukraine if not worse as their economy is 100% supported by Russia.
Any politician who talks about “other partners” and rejects Russia is a dangerous fool and a liar.
Ukraine went down this road and found no market for their goods and are now in major -debt – surviving on loans . Hey have lost any sovereignty they had.
Politicians in Belarus need to face the reality about their economy and geography – they are only of interest as a tool against Russia. No one cares about Belarus economy it’s people etc
Look at the example Armenia had an uprising but can’t stray far from Russia as they are in between Azerbaijan and Turkey!!! They recognised the reality of their economy and geography
LikeLike
On that note, I just saw this piece from VZGLIAD, it lays out how, on the oil front, Lukashenko became a victim of his own games.
Quick summary: In trying to prove to Russia how he should not be taken for granted as a customer, Luka “diversified” by purchasing a tank of American oil (which, by the way, is of inferior quality and totally unsuited to the Belorussian infrastructure, but Luka was simply proving a point by buying it).
Then the punchline to this joke: Americans are now reproving him for his bad character and threatening with sanctions, including withdrawing any further oil shipments they promised.
Meanwhile, the writer of this piece quotes Russian experts to the effect that Russia would actually be BETTER OFF not selling their oil to Belorussia, since they can make more $$$ selling it to other countries. Belorussia being sort of a charity case in terms of the export tariffs and so on.
So, once again, Luka caught in a web of his own devising.
Sucks to be him.
LikeLike
To be fair, their economy isn’t 100% supported by Russia. Maybe 80%? Or something like that.
Not that it matters for the argument, lol.
LikeLike
And on the language front: Since it is part of my self-defined “job” to track egregious cases of American borrowings polluting the glorious Russian language:
Ladies and gentlemen: I give you лавстори – can you guess what it means?
“Love story!” I saw it for the first time in this piece.
As if Russia doesn’t have perfectly adequate words for both “love” and “story” !
I swear it will soon come to the point where all it takes to speak Russian is just speak in American, but with a thick Slavic accent.
LikeLike