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Many are asking whose victory Russia wants in Belarus.
With Kremlin spox Peskov maintaining his usual line of "we don't meddle in the affairs of sovereign states" and TV news not really covering the vote, I've watched some state TV talk shows to see what's being said.
THREAD:
With Kremlin spox Peskov maintaining his usual line of "we don't meddle in the affairs of sovereign states" and TV news not really covering the vote, I've watched some state TV talk shows to see what's being said.
THREAD:
In short, Lukashenko is still being backed despite the Wagner scandal. No other candidate is seen as realistic.
60 Minut host Olga Skabeyeva: "We know perfectly that the majority supports Luka."
Pundit Sergei Mikheyev: Luka would win even if "super honest" elections were held.
60 Minut host Olga Skabeyeva: "We know perfectly that the majority supports Luka."
Pundit Sergei Mikheyev: Luka would win even if "super honest" elections were held.
All the hosts were keen to downplay the significance of opposition rallies whenever they were brought up.
When one guest on Vremya Pokazhet tried to talk about Tikhanovskaya, host Artyom Sheynin said there was "no point" in discussing who might replace Lukashenko.
When one guest on Vremya Pokazhet tried to talk about Tikhanovskaya, host Artyom Sheynin said there was "no point" in discussing who might replace Lukashenko.
On his late-night show, host Vladimir Solovyov said it was a "fundamental misconception" that the opposition's ability to get people out onto the streets translated directly into success at the ballot box.
"It's not the same thing," he stressed.
"It's not the same thing," he stressed.
When political expert Dmitry Bolkunets said on 60 Minut that "over 200,000" had joined Tikhanovskaya's rallies across Belarus, Skabeyeva claimed that there had in fact been "very varied figures...coming from different points of view" ranging from "6,000 to 200,000".
And when Bolkunets argued on Solovyov that opposition protests were the "sincere" impulse of people wanting "honest elections", the host interrupted him.
"It's never that simple," he countered, arguing that a "thin pro-Western elite" was trying to "seduce" Belarus.
"It's never that simple," he countered, arguing that a "thin pro-Western elite" was trying to "seduce" Belarus.
Another clear message was that the opposition is anti-Russian. According to MP Alexei Zhuravlyov, Luka is the "only Russophile" running.
"None of the [other] candidates has any liking for Russia," Solovyov said, claiming that not one of them had publicly backed the Union State
![Another clear message was that the opposition is anti-Russian. According to MP Alexei Zhuravlyov, Luka is the "only Russophile" running.
"None of the [other] candidates has any liking for Russia," Solovyov said, claiming that not one of them had publicly backed the Union State](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EepyfaVXYAAuViU.png "Another clear message was that the opposition is anti-Russian. According to MP Alexei Zhuravlyov, Luka is the \"only Russophile\" running.
\"None of the [other] candidates has any liking for Russia,\" Solovyov said, claiming that not one of them had publicly backed the Union State")
"None of the [other] candidates has any liking for Russia," Solovyov said, claiming that not one of them had publicly backed the Union State
If Luka loses or is ousted, Mikheyev said, the "full collapse" of Belarus awaits.
Most people will "become impoverished", and the best they'll be able to hope for is work in Europe as unskilled labour migrants. END
Most people will "become impoverished", and the best they'll be able to hope for is work in Europe as unskilled labour migrants. END
