Opinions & Interviews

“We have done everything to make the West happy with our election campaign. This is not about the OSCE alone. We are part of this organization and can criticize some of its member states as well. On the other side, when we are criticized by the West, it is difficult for our Russian, Chinese and other partners to support us. We do not want to create such problems to our friends. This is why we met the West halfway, considered their recommendations, accepted their terms,” the President said.

According to Alexander Lukashenko, any politician, especially the head of state, does not want any restrictions and sanctions imposed against his country. “We do not want to live under sanctions, because they affect us this or other way. The impact on Russia is less because it is a more self-sufficient country than us,” he noted.

“Yes, we were not happy with the sanctions. The fact that they were lifted shows that we were right. We did not deserve those sanctions. Neither does Russia,” President said.

He stressed, however, that when Belarus is put certain conditions, he first looks at whether it is in the interests of the country, whether it is possible to take this or that step. “If we find it possible, we go ahead. Why unnecessarily strain the situation? So we did everything so that there would be fewer claims towards us,” Alexander Lukashenko said.