Killed on Maidan Belarusian Michael Jiznevsky, “Warriors of light” by Lyapis, Belarus fans, singing song “about Putin”. However, another Belarus, the participant of the “union state” with Russia also exists. The country, where Lukashenko, destroyed an opposition, rules. The citizens of the neighbor country make war on Donbass on the both sides of the front line, allegedly illustrating the split inside of the Belarus society.

To war means to earn

The citizen of Belarus Rodion Kurguzov fought against Ukraine in gangs of “All Great Army of Don”. In spite words of Lukashenko about inevitability of the punishment for mercenary to the citizens of Belarus, who take part in the war in Donbass, Kurguzov still free, According to the report of “Euroradio”, after coming back to Ukraine insurgents was invited into KGB

Fighter Kurguzov in Ukraine

The chairman of KGB BR (Belarus Republic) reported in summer 2015 that security service has the information about 170 mercenaries, fighting in Ukraine. Vitaliy Lyaschuk, rose the “captain” rank in “LPR”, reported that this number is biased, there are much more of them. I know personally, maybe, 80 Belarusians, who’s fighting here. What depends a total number, it’s as minimum four times more, than you call”. Mass media has reported in spring 2015, that citizen of Belarus Natalia Krasovskaya, the “star” of the Russian propaganda “sniper Natasha” died near Donetsk.

“Sniper Natasha” tells how she kills Ukrainians

It has already become known, that she is in Moscow and gathers “humanitarian aid” for “Novorossiya”. Krasovskaya became a hostage of own glory and participation of Belarusian mercenaries in illegal armed formations in Donbass become obvious. Now “Sniper Natasha” can’t come back home, KGB interested in her. As the answer Krasovskaya claimed that she will come back to Motherland only with the weapon in her arms, when “militants” cross the border of Belarus.

Not all mercenaries could come back home, even with status of suspected in the participation in illegal armed formations. Eugeniy Kononov has died in Donetsk in the showdown of separatist gangs between each other.

Kononov the fighter from Mogilev

Before his death, ex-paratrooper Kononov (callsign “Kot”) worked in Moscow, had problems with police there and according to some data was sentenced to a short term. He came in Donbass in 2014. Separatist media reported that “Kot” fought in the most hot spots of this war. He got son in Donetsk and two daughters was left by him in Mogilev.

MIA BR noticed in its reports that criminals, connected with illicit arms trafficking from Donbass, are  increasing. The head of Brest Police Baleiko claimed in the first days of 2016 that suspected in evasion of alimony citizen, who was detained by law enforcements, turned out the insurgent of “DPR”.

“He took part in the warfare on the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk Regions as part of combat units. He has awards and gave the confirms of it during the interrogations”, told to journalists Maj.-Gen. of Belarus Police.

“Warriors of light, warriors of good”

Rustam Dok has come to Ukraine after Maidan and become one of the first volunteers from Belarus. “If neighbour’s home is burning, all village came running together to stew it. It is maybe alike situation. Brothers need help. Moreover, that we have one enemy for the last 300-400 years”, tells Belarusian.

Repressions are waiting for those Belorussians, who fought for Ukraine, “First of all there were a few precedents, when coming back people got in the jail or gone missing. Secondly, those less number, who risked to come back, are still on the hook of the KGB and at any appropriate moment, let it be after a week, two, three, months, year, five years, the staff of “People’s Commissariat of Internal Affairs” (NKVD – rus.) with more modern name can roll up to them and officially throw them into the prison on trumped-up or real charges”, tells Rustam, “It’s enough to know here that a number of ATO-soldiers were put behind bars and I haven’t heard yet about any prisoned separatist. At the same time, we can remember the words of Lukashenko, who said (pay attention on the word order): “we will put behind bars everybody, regardless, if they fight ON THE SIDE OF DONBASS or AGAINST IT!”

Belarus volunteers formed their own squad “Pagonya” in summer 2014. The fighter of this unit “Kim” says that “there is a war now not only for Ukraine, but also and for Belarus. Our country can be the next, if we don’t stop Putin’s horde now. Upbuilding of the military power of Russian Federation and in Belarus too, clearly indicates it”.

After the end of war “Kim” is going to come back home and peaceful life. However, in case of intervention of Russia in Belarus, volunteer is ready to reflect aggression: “We will be one of the first units, which will rush to defend the homeland. And we’ll do it better than a biggest part of Belorussian army, who haven’t ever seen a war and study Soviet tactics, which is unuseful for a several decades”.

Volunteers from Belarus suppose that secret services of the Republic are under the influence of Russian FSS. Moreover, Belarus and RF have common General Staff and Russian military objects are located on the territory of the country.

And what if war war will continue?

Really, Russia and Belarus are going to create the one military organization in 2016-2018. Minister of the Defense of Russian Federation Sergei Shoigu told about it: “We approved the plan of joint activities in 2-16-2018 years, which is directed on the forming of the military organization of the Union state and creation of the stable mechanism of its armed defense”.

The question about location of the Russian airbase in Belarusian territory is solving at a real time. The editor of the edition “Charter’97” and political refugee Nataliya Rodina considers Belarus of Lukashenko hostility to Ukraine state.

Opposition supporters attend a rally denouncing the results of presidential elections in central Minsk, December 19, 2010. Police in Belarus dispersed an opposition march and beat its leader after an election on Sunday that a pro-government pollster said veteran leader Alexander Lukashenko won by a landslide. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko (BELARUS – Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS CIVIL UNREST)

“According to the data of the sociologists, 60% of Belorussians support the actions of Russia in Donbass and Crimea. This is happening, because only Russian channel work in the information space of the republic. Alexander Lukashenko strangled all independent media, that’s why there is no alternative information. And Belorussian propaganda has not a big difference with Russian. For example, events of Euromaidan are called only “coup d’etat” in Belarus. Belarusian media armed with all Russian rhetoric. Of course, the degree of ant-Ukrainian mood slightly less, but sense stays the same”, consider the journalist.

Events on Maidan scared Lukashenko, moreover, that alike Revolution could take place in Minsk in 2010. Central Election Commission claimed him as the winner of the elections 2010 even before the closing of polls. Peaceful rally of citizens was hardly broken up by OMON and special services have arrested nearly 1000 of protesters.

While top-brassers were beating detained, the mission of observers of CIS claimed that “elections were free, open, relevant to legislation of BR and democratic norms”.

After the ‘victory’ Lukashenko has launched reprisals against the opposition. According to the editor in chief of “Charter’97” edition Nataliya Rodina, dozens of leading politicians, human rights defenders and journalists were thrown into the jails after December 19. Presidential candidates have got the terms from 5 to 6 years only  for their visiting the elections.

Opposition supporters attend a rally denouncing the results of presidential elections in central Minsk, December 19, 2010. Police in Belarus dispersed an opposition march and beat its leader after an election on Sunday that a pro-government pollster said veteran leader Alexander Lukashenko won by a landslide. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko (BELARUS – Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS CIVIL UNREST)

Minsk format of negotiations become the saving loophole for the “last dictator of Europe” . “Lukashenko – peacemaker”, who cynically this sounds to citizens of Belarus, suited EU and Russia. Ukrainian society, those part that misses USSR, believed in “Lukashenko – peacemaker”. At the same time, totalitarian regime, established in Belarus, got the easing of sanctions from the side of EU instead mediation in Minsk negotiations and Lukashenko gave up his place of the “last Fuhrer” to Putin, become “”penultimate”.

The song to support Lukashenko president

Russia is the main economic partner for Belarus and Putis is the guarantor of keeping of dictator’s power in the country. Lukashenko fears, that events, alike Ukrainian Maidan can repeat in Minsk. The economic problems, serious impoverishment of Belarus citizens is the base for possible protest. The administration of Lukashenko fears that Revolution can be exported in the Republic from Ukraine. At the same time, some warming appeared in the relationships with Europe and Kremlin is worrying about this.

Does Sasha go away?

Volunteer Rustam Dok supposes that “Maidan” is really possible in BR. “The question is only when it will happen, because I haven’t already see such a tendencies, everything goes its comfortable way – let it be no war”, says Belarusian.

It’s hard to forecast what will be with the country after Lukashenko’s death. Our interlocutor considers that “Putin will intercept the initiative and regular “independent” father, who will obey Kremlin orders, will be chosen”.

Belarus still stays post-Soviet country with the colossal influence of Moscow on power and society. In a case of changing of the authority, people of pro-Russian views likely will stay and foreign policy will be determined by the Kremlin. Ukrainian power in its turn or afraids to provide citizenship to volunteers and refugees from Belarus, or connects with Lukasheko by relevant secret agreements. For today foreigners-volunteers stay illegal, further fade of them could be written by separate point in the contracts with Lukashenko the dictator.

Nikita Pidgora

translated by Denis Bizkitov