Belarus Edges Away from Putin's Russia, Fearful of Ukraine's Fate

[Frodo]

Scared By Ukraine War, Belarus Strongman Lukashenko Mulls Ditching Russia

By  Christopher Harress
January 31 2015 10:31 AM

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[Simfan34]

Good for him! Maybe they can also drop the whole "we're still more or less Soviet" thing while they're at it if they want to stimulate Belarusian nationalism.

Starting, obviously, with the flag and emblem, which are almost exact copies of those of the Belarusian SSR, which Lukashenko reintroduced (fraudulent) after they had adopted the historical flag and the "Pahonia" coat of arms.

This is a big deal, enough that when I spoke to a counsellor at Scout camp years ago who was Belarusian, it was one of the things he said most bothered him about the present state or the country. I imagine a restoration of the traditional symbols would be a signal a major shift in the state of affairs. It would be, I think, the most credible signal of different intentions.

Either that or changing the name (well at least we don't call it "Byelorussia" any more, although other languages apparently do, so maybe they can start with that).

Of course, changing your country's name (or asserting the existence of one) and getting people to call it by that name are two different things... but I digress and will continue elsewhere.

[Famous Mortimer]

This seems like a real dumb move, "I'm afraid of Russia so I'll antagonize them"

[ag]

This seems like a real dumb move, "I'm afraid of Russia so I'll antagonize them"

Much smarter than trying to be nice to Russia, though. Because if Russia senses weakness, it will pounce, whether you "antagonize" it or not.

[Beet]

This seems like a real dumb move, "I'm afraid of Russia so I'll antagonize them"

Russia's the one doing the antagonizing

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Hm, I was betting on Lukashenko negotiating his way into the new Soviet Union before Putin made any moves and did it by force. This is a nice surprise.

[ag]

Hm, I was betting on Lukashenko negotiating his way into the new Soviet Union before Putin made any moves and did it by force. This is a nice surprise.

Do you really think he would want to be a Russian governor?

He is a dictator, not an idiot.

[BaconBacon96]

He's just doing it so Putin will throw more aid money his way.

[Famous Mortimer]

Probably. Yanukovych did a similar thing.