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Not quite the round table between regime and opposition many had in mind: Lukashenka meets Viktor Babaryko and Coordination Council member Liliya Vlasova in KGB prison. "The constitution won't be written on the streets." https://news.tut.by/economics/703572.html
Lukashenka asked MPs to gather suggestions from 'citizens' until 25 October. His likely aim is to drive a wedge between Coordination Council presidium members. Tsikhanouskaya's position: constitutional reform only after new elections. Babaryko/Vlasova are vulnerable in prison.
The talk lasted for more than four hours. A potential deal could include lending 'legitimacy' to Lukashenka's constitutional 'refom' proposal in return for releasing political prisoners.
This is not the beginning of a dialogue between Lukashenka and opposition. In the view of Latushko/Platform Golos its a tactics to divert attention from fraudulent elections. Golos is to launch own electronic system to gather suggestions for const. reform. https://t.me/votebelarus2020/96
The well-sourced Aleksei Venediktov thinks Babaryko was mentioned in Lukashenka-Putin talks. Both Lavrov on 23 Aug & 02 Sept, and Putin on 27 August publicly supported Lukashenka's const. reform. On 28 August, Lukashenka presented plan at OSCE meeting. https://twitter.com/aavst/status/1314932240485429252
Russia supports constitutional 'reform' as a platform for 'national dialogue' that could lead to 'normalisation' of the situation. But as the process is opaque, the stakes are high. Amendments could include deeper integration with Russia (see Art. 61 of Union State treaty).
For the record: Babaryka's plan from 29 June was to initiate constitutional referendum with the 1994 constitution as basis. Goal: presidential term limits and a weakenend presidency with checks and balances (Lukashenka wants to amend 1996 constitution). https://naviny.media/new/20200629/1593458085-shtab-babariko-napravit-lukashenko-predlozheniya-po-izmeneniyu-konstitucii
Andrei Yahorau who is involved in the debate on constitutional reform around Tsikhanouskaya (Grib, Liabedzka, Pastukhov) neatly summarizes stance: No const. 'reform' under Lukashenka as L/old electoral commission would steal referendum on amendments.
Maria Kalesnikava wasn't at the meeting with Lukashenka. In the video released on 06 Oct (recorded before she was detained) she asserts that the constitution "will not be discussed with the regime." Crucial to watch will be Babaryka's new party 'Vmeste'. https://reform.by/169585-kolesnikova-my-ne-budet-obsuzhdat-popravki-v-konstituciju-s-rezhimom
