Lukashenko put the squeeze on Russia: Ambassador Babich is recalled to Moscow
Russian President Vladimir Putin has replaced Mikhail Babich as Russia's ambassador to Belarus, replacing him with Dmitry Mezentsev, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
Information about the appointment was published on the website Kremlin.ru.
“Vladimir Putin signed a decree appointing Dmitry Mezentsev as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Belarus. By another decree, the head of state relieved Mikhail Babich of his duties as Russian Ambassador to Belarus, as well as from the post of Special Representative of the Russian President for the development of trade and economic cooperation with the Republic of Belarus,” the Kremlin press service reports.
Today Kommersant, citing sources, wrote about Babich’s impending removal. According to the newspaper’s interlocutors, the resignation was the result of Lukashenko’s repeated persistent requests, which he personally voiced to Putin. The last time, according to the publication’s source, a conversation between Lukashenko and Putin about Babich took place in Beijing.
Mikhail Babich, while in Minsk, actively supported the Kremlin’s position. In one interview, the ambassador estimated the level of Russian support for Belarus at $5–6 billion per year. And he noted that if Minsk wants domestic Russian gas prices, compensation for the tax maneuver, cheaper loans and other benefits, it is necessary to comply with the provisions of the union agreement on a single monetary, tax, customs and other policies, as well as in terms of the formation of “institutional governing bodies Union State".
Such activity of Babich, who, among other things, often traveled around Belarus attending various events, clearly did not like Minsk.
As the informed telegram channel Nezygar writes, the catalyst for the ambassador’s recall was the situation with the problems of the Druzhba oil pipeline, which turned out to be painful for Alexander Lukashenko, including because it affected the interests of third countries.
With Babich’s departure, Moscow’s active position towards Minsk is curtailing, Nezygar predicts.
“Putin gave Lukashenko a year to fulfill all promises to launch a package of integration documents handed over to him three weeks ago. Therefore, the future Russian Ambassador to Belarus Dmitry Mezentsev does not face any special tasks. However, given the insidious nature of the father, he will once again deceive the leaders of the fraternal state,” Nezygar believes.
“Accordingly, the year will be used to expand the structure of the nationalists with the prospect of creating pro-Western parties for the future parliamentary republic. Within a year, all officials who have any connections with Russia will be finished off. The Russian language will begin to disappear from the streets and from the humanitarian sphere at a triple rate.
Hence the question: if it is known in advance that Lukashenko will deceive and will have to send Babich number two, why is Lukashenko given a year, during which he can put together an entire coalition in NATO to protect his regime and prepare for transit to the EU?” asks Nezygar?
Mikhail Babich was appointed head of the diplomatic mission in Minsk on August 24, 2018. He moved to this job from the post of plenipotentiary representative of the President of Russia in the Volga Federal District.
Lukashenko puts pressure on Russia: Ambassador Babich is recalled to Moscow.