Lukašenko defends himself from the West

The Belarusian president claims foreign forces are preparing a "new coup". It should take place in February 2022, during the constitutional referendum. Renewed secret services to strengthen controls. The country is in the hands of "men under orders", similar to the South American juntas.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - "The West is preparing a new coup attempt in our country," stated  disputed Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko speaking to newly appinted òeadership of the KGB, Minsk's security services. The renewal of the top management of the national intelligence, which took place on October 18, has precisely the purpose of strengthening the government with more aggressive security apparatus.

According to the "batka" (godfather) of Belarus, "the situation is very tense, and we cannot relax in any way. You KGB men know better than anyone that last year's failed coup attempt has not changed the plans of our opponents." Lukašenko said that "the united West continues to interfere in our internal affairs, and the danger is the destruction of our nation's independence."

The Belarusian president also indicated the possible date of the new aggression: "The X-day, as they call it, will be during the referendum for constitutional changes." One of the main collaborators of the Minsk strongman, Senate speaker Natalia Kačanova, announced to journalists that the referendum will be held at the end of February 2022.

According to Lukašenko, the new attack on Belarus will be carried out by applying new sanctions, financing street protests and preparing anti-government fighters: "We not only know these things, but we are working on them," assured the Belarusian head of state. He therefore ordered to "suppress all forms of unconstitutional demonstrations", control workers' collectives and strengthen the surveillance of the local press, also increasing the effectiveness of counterintelligence.

As a countermeasure, Belarus is trying to pit Western countries against each other. Above all, Lithuania and Poland are criticized for "sending illegal migrants to Germany and other states of old Europe". The two neighbors, as Lukašenko insists, accuse Belarus of artificially creating the migration crisis by opening escape channels for migrants from their place of detention to Germany and France, thus massively and cynically violating human rights. "But it is Lithuanians and Poles," the Belarusian president argues, "who open the doors of the camps to let them go to other European countries, we have proof of that. Lukašenko appeals to France and Germany "to wake up and do it themselves."

The Belarusian government has not revealed to the public the names of the new heads of the services, except that of the new Minister of Justice, General Sergei Khomenko, transferred from the Interior Ministry. The president explained that a military man at the head  Justice is needed not for his professional skills, but "for organizational skills, discipline and loyalty. Today is no longer the time to count to 10, or even to three, you need to be able to make decisions and implement them as soon as possible."

With these appointments, the leadership surrounding the president is almost entirely made up of representatives of the security forces and the military, now an untouchable caste of Belarusian power. Observers call the government of the country the "junta militar" in the South American way, in which the military is granted all powers. Not only have the names, but also the functions of the new leaders not been disclosed, making the regime an unbreakable monolith as a whole.

As Belarusian political scientist Valerij Karbalevič wrote in Nezavisimaja Gazeta on October 19, "Lukašenko aims to make European countries quarrel among themselves, exploiting the current tension between Poland and the EU and pouring hot oil on conflicts, but no one will listen to him, because his reputation is too compromised."