Анна Канопацкая. Скриншот трансляции.
Answering questions from delegates of the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly, Alyaksandr Lukashenka acknowledged that he had sought channels to Donald Trump through the Kushner family. Contacts were to be overseen by Belarusian Prime Minister Alyaksandr Turchyn. The task of asking about the Kushners was assigned to the regime-friendly pseudo-opposition figure Anna Kanopatskaya.
The reference was to Jared Kushner — the husband of Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump — and to his father, the American developer and disbarred attorney Charles Kushner, who is currently the U.S. ambassador to France and Monaco. Jared’s grandfather Iosif Berkovich (before marriage) and grandmother Raisa Kushner survived the Holocaust in the town of Navahrudak, were married in Budapest in 1945, and emigrated to the United States in 1949.
The intrigue surrounding the Kushner question emerged several days before the Assembly and after the arrival of a U.S. delegation led by John Coale for talks in Minsk. On 16 December, Kanopatskaya, whom the Lukashenka regime uses to simulate an opposition presence in Belarus, boasted that she had been unexpectedly invited to the Assembly. Clearly, the pseudo-opposition figure gained this opportunity because she had been assigned the role of asking “tough” questions. This is not the first time Kanopatskaya has been used in such a capacity.
Kanopatskaya began with a question about Lukashenka’s health and his plans to participate in the 2030 election, and then, through a convoluted query about the “repatriation of persons with Belarusian roots,” eventually managed to reach the surname “Kushner.” Lukashenka seized the opportunity and immediately launched into what appeared to be an improvised reflection.
“But if we are being honest, I did invite them. I invited them through Alyaksandr Henrikhavich (Turchyn, born in Navahrudak — reform.news), that is his homeland. He is from the place where Kushner was born. We invited the ambassador to France, an American in France. That is Kushner’s father, Charles. We invited him. We maintain relations with him. He responds, we talk. The same with Kushner. Somehow they… either the signal did not reach them. But when I meet Trump, I will definitely remind him of this on your behalf (Kanopatskaya — reform.news). But last time, since we are being frank, I told John Coale: ‘John, tell Trump, why aren’t you using the strongest weapon he has.’”
“He turned to me and asked: ‘Which one?’ I said: ‘Melania Trump, she is our person. She is a Slav. From Slovenia.’ She could do a lot both in the Ukrainian conflict and in Belarus. She should be used in this way. He looked at me, a smart man, smirked. And I thought to myself: ‘My God, how can I invite her, she is, after all, a woman, an attractive woman.’ Out of jealousy, Trump might break off all negotiations and relations with us. But I offered it to them, seriously offered that Melania should be more involved in resolving political issues. I think that would be good for Trump.”
“Yes, and why am I talking about Kushner. I am saying not only Kushner should be involved in resolving issues — in Gaza he got involved, in the Ukrainian conflict too. He has done a lot, frankly speaking. I say, not only Kushner, but Melania should be involved. I think this does not nullify my initial invitation for Kushner to come to Belarus and visit the homeland of his ancestors. And then I said to Alyaksandr Henrikhavich: ‘Look, you are from there. Maybe you knew this Kushner?’ No. But still, let’s try… I did not mean that he personally knew him, but still, he knows more about this than I do. He worked there, he knows more. So I involved the prime minister in this,” Lukashenka said.
He then attempted to argue that although the Kushner family is Jewish, they are now Americans, and therefore, in the Belarusian leader’s view, more pragmatic and primarily interested in money.
“But we must remember that no Kushners will solve our problems. They are Americans now. They are a pragmatic people. If there is no economic or financial interest, there is no way to talk to them. So we must rely on ourselves. But if Jared Kushner helps in some way — thank them,” Lukashenka said with some irritation.
Lukashenka concluded his response either jokingly or seriously, suggesting that Kanopatskaya, together with Turchyn, should participate in building relations with the Kushner family.
He also admitted during the same appearance that he had offered the Americans the opportunity to buy the Nezhyn Mining and Processing Plant.