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Belarusian television chief Zimowski dismisses as ungrounded Russia's call for support

Belarus' television chief Alyaksandr Zimowski has dismissed as ungrounded Russia's call for support in its conflict with Georgia.

"Every condition was created for Belarus to be humble as an ally," Mr. Zimowski who is a member of the Council of the Republic and head of the Belarusian State Television and Radio Company, said in an interview with BelaPAN.

On Tuesday, Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Surikov criticized the Belarusian government for its failure to condemn Georgia over fierce fighting in its breakaway region of South Ossetia. “We do not understand why the Belarusian authorities keep humble silence on the situation in South Ossetia,” he said.

"When this Caucasian war started, the formal head of the Union State, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, and the formal premier of the Union State, Vladimir Putin, were in visual contact or, perhaps, in verbal contact at the Bird's Nest Stadium during the opening of the Olympics," Mr. Zimowski said. "But Putin did not discuss the Caucasian 'knot' with his formal chief and the de jure ally, but with other people."

"This means that Belarus always sees Russia as an ally also from the historic point of view, while Russian treats Belarus as an ally erratically when it is politically and economically feasible for it," Mr. Zimowski said. "Russia first makes it clear that it will do without us. And it is understandable. But then they feel offended that they have been left. And it is ridiculous."