Re: [International Politics] Let's not get our hopes up
Belarus is a weird country, a friend of mine wrote his dissertation on the relations of Russia and Belarus (mine was on Japan and Russia) so we had a few interesting conversations on the two countries.
While relations between Belarus and Russia aren't that bad iirc they were looking at having a very close relationship circa 2005, Belarus is ruled by a nutter. Putin is quite a strong leader, the Belarus guy Lukashenko is just nuts.
Eventually he will be ousted out of power, not sure how as he rigs every election and consequently has been in for some time. He also has a horrendous human rights record and about its only friends in Europe and the world are indeed Russia. If anything Russia is probably agreeing to this "tax" to humble Lukashenko. I am sure Putin is working on some way of plotting the downfall of Lukashenko which would allow democracy and all that jazz. Once democracy is back Belarus will just become Russias lapdog again.
Although this is all theoretical, Lukashenko is one powerful guy. But what I am trying to say is that if they piss of Russia, Belarus have no one else fighting there corner (the americans et al will most certainly not touch them with a barge pole.)
I don't think Russia will be too upset about this, at the end of the day it's a tit for tat move and in the future the Russians will probably get there own back financially.
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pig
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