RUSSIA MONITOR MONTHLY 05/2021
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Moscow Appoints New Head of Belarusian Orthodox Church
The latest reshuffle in the Belarusian Orthodox Church is seemingly a concession that Moscow and Alexander Lukashenko both made by replacing an ethnic Russian with a Belarusian national. The new leader of the Orthodox Church is a safe bet for the country’s authorities in the whole turmoil Belarus has plunged recently.
Bulgaria Buys More LNG, Gazprom Will Lose Sales Market
In line with earlier declarations, Bulgaria bought stakes in a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal project in Alexandroupolis, Greece. Prime Minister Boyko Borisov’s government is following the diversification policy for the country’s gas supplies, aspiring to make Bulgaria a regionwide gas hub.
Russian Problems in Syria
Russia’s military presence on the mostly-Kurdish and U.S.-backed eastern side of the Euphrates river in northeastern Syria entails a grave risk, as evidenced by a recent collision between American and Russian armored vehicles in eastern Syria and the killing of a Russian general in jihadi ambush.
Belarus Starts Military Drills, Lukashenko Threatens NATO with Russia
Belarus started on Friday, August 28, three-day military drills in the western region of Grodno. On the same day, Alexander Lukashenko warned North Atlantic Alliance states that both Minsk and Moscow will be ready to pacify adversary. This confirms that Belarus is part of the Russian military theater.
The “Abraham Accord” and the symbolic end of an era
On Thursday, August 13, 2020, the world heard about an agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The event has been dubbed the “Abraham Accord,” and while this is not the first time Israel has entered into official diplomatic ties with an Arab country, it is still a breakthrough in many ways.
Putin Threatens He Could Send Military Support to Belarus
What Vladimir Putin said about deploying “a law enforcement reserve assistance” to Belarus to help Alexander Lukashenko is nothing but part of a psychological game that both Minsk and Moscow are playing up against the West.
China – India relations after clashes in the Galwan Valley
The clashes in the Galwan Valley in East Ladakh, which cost the lives of 20 soldiers of the Indian armed forces, could be a turning point in New Delhi’s policy towards Beijing. So far, the relationship with China has been characterized by a search for balance between attractive economic cooperation as well as growing security threats and challenges.
Day 19 – Manhunt for journalists, anti-Polish rhetoric, Putin threatens to intervene
The Belarusian regime is intensifying repressions against protesters day by day. The police detained over 250 participants of the demonstration in the center of Minsk in the evening of August 27. There was also a raid on the journalists reporting on it – at least 40 of them were detained.
WI Daily News – Poland rejects Aleksander Lukashenko’s accusations
Daily dose of the most important news regarding Polish international cooperation, affairs & activity abroad
Day 18 – Weakening protests, more arrests, hard currency deficit
On Wednesday, August 26, the police detained at least 19 people in Minsk. The protesters were also detained in other cities of Belarus. The detainees are charged with participation in an illegal assembly, after which the court immediately passes a prison sentence, usually for a duration of 10 days.
WI Daily News – Polish Prime Minister to present aid plan for Belarus
Daily dose of the most important news regarding Polish international cooperation, affairs & activity abroad
Russia Interferes in Georgia Polls
A parliamentary poll in Georgia is due for October 2020 and thus many signs are that Russia will make efforts to place its bets on the Alliance of Patriots of Georgia, a radical pro-Russian party. Its political feats come in handy for Georgian Dream, the country’s governing party that depicts itself as a moderate and pro-Western group –– especially if contrasted with the Alliance of Patriots of Georgia.
WI Daily News – Solidarity sends aid to Belarus
Daily dose of the most important news regarding Polish international cooperation, affairs & activity abroad
Turkey Imports Less Gas from Russia
Turkey buys more Azeri gas and liquefied natural gas whilst its gas imports from Russia are in decline. Ankara has just declared it would soon become self-sufficient in energy resources –– with its new sizeable gas deposits discovered off the Black and Mediterranean Sea.
Lukashenko’s Lesson For Putin
Vladimir Putin and his aides are keeping an eye on the events in Belarus –– as Russian officials feel concern over their interests in the neighboring country as well as wonder about political future at home. Lukashenko’s current headache might be a lesson for Vladimir Putin.
Day 17 – First sentences, intriguer Lavrov, little green men
After many days, the Belarusian security forces began to detain the demonstrators again. Single arrests took place after a rally of several thousand people in the center of Minsk on the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of Belarus.
The Moscow Patriarchate Has a Problem in Belarus
The ongoing political turmoil in Belarus might bring severe consequences for the country’s religious organizations. The largest of them, the Moscow-occupied Belarusian Orthodox Church, was the only one to support Lukashenko and recognize the rigged ballot.
European Countries Expel Russian Diplomats
In just a few days in August, Norway and Slovakia –– two NATO countries –– expelled Russian diplomats linked to espionage activities or those who had served as intelligence officers themselves. The latter country asked the Russian diplomatic staff to leave amidst the high-profile murder of a Georgian man of Chechen descent in Berlin back in August 2019.
Day 16 – Hitting the leaders, another call to the Kremlin
Another demonstration in the center of Minsk took place without any obstacles or forceful actions of the regime.
WI Daily News – Polish – American air force exercise in Łask
Daily dose of the most important news regarding Polish international cooperation, affairs & activity abroad
Warsaw Institute
