Фото: пресс-служба Лукашенко
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko came up with an unexpected idea during his meeting with Artem Zdunov, the head of Russia’s Republic of Mordovia. While Lukashenko usually discusses trade in machinery, food supplies, and other practical matters with regional governors, this time he proposed something entirely different — a joint film production.
“You know how to do this. We would be very interested in exchanging experience and providing personnel support. We are now paying a lot of attention to cinematography — cinema is the most important of the arts,” Lukashenko said, according to his press service. “I know there’s an idea to shoot, I believe, a multi-episode film about Oswald. We would be very interested in taking part, offering our facilities, and even helping to secure financing for what I’m sure would be a fascinating project.”
Lukashenko emphasized that such a story would be both timely and relevant.
“This topic was actively raised in the United States by the current president, Donald Trump. If we manage to make this film in time, it will be very relevant,” he added.
He also suggested that filmmakers from Belarus and Mordovia could explore other shared historical subjects.
“There are plenty of common themes in Belarusian-Russian history that would be useful for us to explore. In short, we are ready and open to cooperation with the kind and hardworking people of your beautiful land — Mordovia,” Lukashenko said.
Before pitching the film idea, the Belarusian leader called for more energetic and ambitious cooperation between Belarus and the Russian region.
“In the economy, we need bold, dynamic action — solid and breakthrough projects. Last year our trade turnover was just over $130 million, which is far from the limit given the industrial capacities of both Belarus and Mordovia,” Lukashenko said.
He praised Mordovia as one of Russia’s leading regions in terms of innovation and industrial production.
“We are also proud of our scientific potential and aim to put our research into production. We have been discussing this a lot and are setting specific innovation goals. Let’s strengthen cooperation between our specialized institutes — in IT, training specialists, developing software, and, of course, in the now-fashionable field of artificial intelligence,” he said.
Lukashenko also touched on more traditional areas of cooperation. He expressed confidence that Belarusian agricultural machinery could help boost Mordovia’s farming sector, and he proposed expanding ties in medical education. In the pharmaceutical field, he suggested manufacturing medicines from the Promomed Group’s portfolio at Belarus’s “Belmedpreparaty” facilities.
For reference, Lee Harvey Oswald remains the only official suspect in the 1963 assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. The Warren Commission concluded that Oswald acted alone. He was arrested 40 minutes after the shooting, but two days later, nightclub owner Jack Ruby shot and killed him while he was being transferred to a county jail.
Oswald had previously lived in the Soviet Union from 1959 to 1962, settling in Minsk after requesting Soviet citizenship — a request that was denied, though he was allowed to stay temporarily.