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Lukashenka accuses Moscow of demonizing him in media

Alyaksandr Lukashenka has blamed the negative portrayal of his rule in the Russian media on a "bunch of high-ranking Russian officials."

"While the Russian media were closed to the Belarus subject in the past, a flow of shameless lies, misinformation and simply sheer absurdities is now being pumped into them on purpose," Mr. Lukashenka told a group of Russian provincial reporters in Minsk on October 1. "It's all intended for you, Russians."

He suggested that the media portrayal was aimed at "convincing people on the territory from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok that the Belarusians are nearly enemies and their president is a thief, murderer, traitor, while Belarus itself is Russia's permanent dependent." "It's complete nonsense," he added.

Mr. Lukashenka lavished praise on groups of Russian provincial reporters who regularly arrive in Belarus on tours arranged by the Belarusian authorities. "If it were not for the truth that you're bringing now, it would be very hard for us. If there's anything that can stop those who are trying today to create tensions over relations between Belarus and Russia, it is the opinion of the Russian public. And it has been formed by you in the first place. And I know what obstacles are created by various sorts of politicians in Russia to prevent the journalist from getting into Belarus and expressing his opinion afterward," he said.

The group includes more than 100 journalists representing 60 Russian provinces, as well as federal and Union State media outlets, according to Pavel Lyohki, head of the Belarusian leader's press office.

Mr. Lyohki said that the delegation was the largest-ever group of Russian reporters to arrive in Belarus. "This is evidence of Russian publications' big interest in our country," he noted.

Russia's Agency of Political News said with reference to a Kremlin source on Thursday that the Russian government had advised federal media outlets not to participate in "promotional tours" of Belarus.