Expert: “Crackdown on opposition is a reaction of Belarus security forces”

Andrei Suzdaltsev, a Moscow-based political analyst following the developments in Belarus, shares his views in an interview with the European Radio for Belarus on the events on March 25-27. On Freedom Day, March 25, the riot police brutally broke up a peaceful demonstration to mark 90 years since Belarus’s first declaration of independence. On March 27, security agents staged all-out raids at the private apartments and offices of independent media.

In the view of the political commentator, this was a reaction of security forces to the negotiations between some representatives of the ruling elite in Belarus and the West. Security bosses were not allowed to take part in those negotiations.

“This is a reaction of “siloviki” (the intelligence and security community) to the dialogue between the West and Minsk. It turned out that part of the high-ranking ruling nomenclature had already felt well-fitted in this dialogue with the West. The “siloviki” felt themselves left out of this process. At the same time, they understand very well that they will be made scapegoats in the eyes of the West. All the blame for almost 14 years of terror will be put on them. They will pay the price for Lukashenka’s arrival at Europe’s political landscape. Therefore, this was their reaction”.

The commentator also recalled the incident about the discovery of a US spy ring by the Belarusian state television. That story came totally unexpected for the KGB, the national security service. It turned out later that there were no spies. In respond, security agencies “busted” the enemies among independent journalists.

“The Belarusian state television surprisingly discovered a plot of US spies who were not later found. It looked like the Belarusian TV was more powerful than security services. It was like a spit in the face of “siloviki”. They responded. The opposition found itself in-between two millstones. The pro-Western block in the Belarusian leadership was inviting the West for a dialogue and promising that everything would be okay. The other block, which abruptly felt to be unnecessary, decided to smash them all in this case”.

Please tune in for the European Radio for Belarus’s programs on Sunday and check our web site for a full interview with Andrei Suzdaltsev.