Nemtsov: Despite being used, we will not unite with Lukashenka

In respond to the use of the Russian opposition by the Belarusian media in an 'information war' with Russia, Boris Nemtsov called out: "Long Live Belarus!", while Lyudmila Alexeyeva described the actions of the Belarusian television as disgusting.
The Belarusian side a new weapon for an information warfare with Russia. First, the Belausian state television aired interviews with the leaders of Georgia and Latvia who have sour relations with the Kremlin. Now, the official propaganda turned to the Russian opposition for help.
 
The government-sponsored newspaper Respublika recently published Boris Nemtsov's report titled "Putin. Results. 10 Years" in which it poured a sharp criticism on Vladimir Putin, the methods and actions of his rule as the Russian president. Mr Nemtsov admitted to Euroradio he was satisfied that he work was published by the Belarusian press. But, he warned this was not making him a fan of Alexander Lukashenka and his aides in the information war.

Boris Nemtsov: “Yes, they are using our report. But, this report can be accessed freely and can be used by anyone. The plus is that the Belarusian people will learn the truth about the real results of Putin's rule. But, we are not Saakashvili and we are not going to unite with Lukashenka in struggle against Putin. We regard them as twin brothers and bad people. So they should not count on our support. I mean Lukashenka and his proponents".



He even got offended when he was told that he was indirectly helping the Belarusian authorities in this information war. "I am not helping them. Look! I was a non grata person for five years. My position is absolutely clear -- Lukashenka Go!, Long Live Belarus! That's it", he stressed.

Recently, the Belarusian TV also showed a fragment of the interview with the chairperson of the Moscow Group of the Helsinki Committee, Ludmila Alexeyeva, when the famous Russian human right activist was talking about the poor human rights situation in Russia.

Talking to Euroradio, Ludmila Alexeyeva noted that the Belarusian TV had indeed visited here several days ago. But she says she was absolutely confident they were representing an independent channel.

She was disgusted when she was told why the 'honest' journalists from the Belarusian state television used her interview.



The human rights activist admitted she did not watch the Russian television in principle and did not follow the information war and did not watch 'Godfather' films. But she says NTV should continue showing this information warfare series. "If those films are truthworthy, it is very good if our citizens learn what is going on in Belarus"

The Belarusian television also allowed other oppositionists from the East to voice their view. But in the view of Andrei Fyodorov, former Russian deputy foreign minister and currently director of a Moscow-based think-tank, Lukashenka should not count on the love of the Russian opposition. "The Russian opposition does not like Alexander Lukashenka very much. It made it clear on numerous occaisions. From this point of view, the lack of love towards Lukashenka should not necesserily outweigh the lack of love to Putin".



In the view of the Russian expert, all those exchanges in the Belarusian media does not help solving any issues or problems in relations between our countries.

Photo by Zmitser Lukashuk