Events

8 Jan 2025

Eismont reveals how Lukashenko chooses who to give interview to

Natalya Eismont. An archive photo

MINSK, 8 January (BelTA) – In the latest episode of the documentary series Time Chose Us aired by the Belarus 1 TV channel Press Secretary of the President of Belarus Natalya Eismont named the criteria used by the head of state to decide who to give interview to, BelTA reports.

“We are open to all kinds of interviews. Of course, it is impossible to satisfy all requests for interviews. But I can say that we carefully consider, study and analyze each incoming request (be it a request coming from an international news agency, a television channel or a smaller media outlet). The only criterion the head of state sets for us is relevance, hot topics on the agenda. The presidential schedule, as we know, is extremely busy. Everything must be done in a business-like manner,” said Natalya Eismont.

Speaking about the high interest of the world media in Belarus in 2015, Aleksandr Lukashenko’s press secretary noted that it was due to many factors, including the hot phase of the conflict in the south-east of Ukraine, and the Normandy Four peace talks that took place in Minsk, and the build-up to the presidential election in Belarus.

“In 2015, we had about a dozen major media events. In other words, practically every month the president spoke with journalists in one format or another,” noted Natalya Eismont.

How many media outlets wanted to interview Lukashenko in 2015?

MINSK, 8 January (BelTA) - In the latest episode of the documentary series Time Chose Us aired by the Belarus 1 TV channel Press Secretary of the President of Belarus Natalya Eismont revealed how many requests for interviews Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko received from the international media in 2015, BelTA reports.

“The global situation and the situation around us, a very acute conflict in south-east Ukraine, the Normandy Format talks in Minsk and the upcoming presidential election in Belarus sparked an interest in the Belarusian agenda among all international media. There were a lot of requests to talk to the president. I cannot recall their exact number, but there were hundreds of them,” Natalya Eismont said.

The press secretary pointed out that if every request were met, which was impossible, the president's schedule would have included only interviews.

“One of the most high-profile interviews of 2015 that I remember very well was with the largest American news agency Bloomberg. It took place in late March, almost a month after the landmark Normandy Format talks in the Palace of Independence in Minsk,” she emphasized. “The journalist who visited us was mostly interested in the details and the president's assessment of the talks.”

The spokeswoman stressed that the head of state spoke very openly and there was no self-complacency in the conversation. “He mentioned that there was a probability that this situation was just calm before the storm. He said that despite the Minsk agreements, peace in Ukraine was still a long way off. Probably the most significant point the head of state mentioned was that the United States played a decisive role in all these processes and if it wanted peace in Ukraine, it would come. And vice versa: if the United States did not want it, there would be no peace,” she added.

Natalya Eismont stated that in 2015, like today, the president spoke about the need for negotiations. “He said these things publicly, openly and purposefully, in order to be heard. But the powers that be pretended that they did not hear him. As we can see, they did not want to. It was a very important conversation, a very important interview. But, certainly, it was not the only one of this scale,” the press secretary of the Belarusian leader concluded.

Eismont comments on Lukashenko's interviews with non-state media in 2015

MINSK, 8 January (BelTA) - In the latest episode of the documentary series Time Chose Us aired by the Belarus 1 TV channel Press Secretary of the President of Belarus Natalya Eismont said that Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko was open to talk to non-state media and answered all their questions in 2015, BelTA reports.

Aleksandr Lukashenko gave an interview to non-state media on 4 August 2015. He promised to have such a dialogue at the large press conference in January.

“We invited three journalists from our, let's say, prominent non-state media outlets. The president was willing to have this conversation. It lasted much longer than planned. Although there were only three journalists, it took more than four hours. The president answered all their questions,” Natalya Eismont remarked.

The press secretary stressed that the topics of the conversation were “surprisingly traditional”. None of the questions came as a surprise. “In the run-up to the presidential election, the journalists were certainly interested in the domestic agenda. The situation in Ukraine was the most discussed topic at that time. The economy was always a topic of interest for these journalists. They asked when Belarus would follow in the footsteps of the West to embrace a very liberal version of the market economy, which they liked and still like so much. As far as I remember, the journalists were talking a lot about the language issue. They were concerned about it, but in fact this issue has never been a problem in our country,” she emphasized.

Natalya Eismont pointed out that this interview was neither special nor difficult for the president. “We never ask anyone to send us questions in advance (it is our principle set by the president) while preparing for an interview. The president is always ready to answer any questions. In this respect, it is very easy for me as press secretary to do my job. All the questions we were expecting were voiced,” the press secretary stated.

The interviewers were strongly criticized by their colleagues, she added. They expected a hard talk, not softball questions.

“Yet, credit where credit is due. I like the way they approached the interview. I should say that the non-state media did a good job. Maybe they understood the level of responsibility. They probably appreciated that we invited them and devoted so much time to the interview, albeit they did not avoid some bias. A slight one, because we understand our current realities. At that time they were probably still learning,” the press secretary of the Belarusian leader concluded.



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