English

Confrontation between Minsk and Kremlin is beneficial to future of Belarus, says Belarusian Popular Front chairman

 

The current conflict between Minsk and Moscow over the arrest of Uralkali CEO Vladislav Baumgertner is beneficial to the future of Belarus, Alyaksey Yanukevich, chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front (BPF), said Saturday, speaking at a meeting of the opposition party’s council.

“As a matter of fact, any confrontation between Minsk and the Kremlin is beneficial to the future of Belarus because it somehow strengthens nationalism in the country and increases the European prospects of Belarus,” Mr. Yanukevich said.

Rows with Russia, which is the main donor of the current Belarusian regime, result in a deterioration in the economic situation of Belarus, he noted. “Motor fuel prices have already risen following the Uralkali conflict,” he said. “I believe one should expect a new currency devaluation soon.”

Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s statement that an exit duty should be imposed on Belarusians traveling abroad for shopping is an attempt to justify the future devaluation and persuade people that they themselves are to blame for it because they take foreign exchange out of the country, Mr. Yanukevich noted.

According to him, this opens up opportunities for the BPF and other pro-democracy forces to increase their influence. “We should show that there is an alternative to the current authorities, which have driven the nation into an economic deadlock,” he said. // BelaPAN