Фото: Пул первого
Aliaksandr Lukashenka has once again resorted to assurances of loyalty to Russia during a meeting with a Russian regional leader. This time, he sought to reassure Andrey Turchak, head of the Altai Republic.
“This is our policy. You can be sure of that. Even in these difficult times, when the special military operation is underway (there is all kinds of talk surrounding it), I have stated unequivocally that we are not traitors and will never betray our brothers. No matter how difficult or challenging things get, we will always stand by your side. If there is anything we can do, we will do it, including for your region, which may seem geographically far away,” Lukashenka said, according to his press service.
Recently, he has frequently made similar statements at meetings with Russian officials. A month ago, on September 29, while receiving Ulyanovsk Region Governor Alexei Russkikh, Lukashenka insisted that Minsk’s multi-vector foreign policy did not distance Belarus from Moscow and said he did not want to share Ukraine’s fate. A few days later, on October 2, at a meeting with the prime ministers of the Eurasian Economic Union member states, including Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Lukashenka said that “we have never been traitors.”
In 2025, Lukashenka “justified” his multi-vector policy to the governor of the Smolensk Region. In February this year, he told Union State Secretary Sergei Glazyev that he was not using negotiations with the United States to solve Belarus’s problems at Russia’s expense.
Speaking about cooperation with Altai, Lukashenka assured Turchak that any initiatives of interest to him would be implemented. He also reiterated his offer to provide favorable conditions for cooperation with certain Russian regions, particularly as Turchak previously headed the Pskov Region, which is among those regions.
“If you find anything of interest in Belarus, let us know, or tell our authorized representative, Dzmitry Krutoi (head of the Presidential Administration — ed.). He is a former ambassador, although there is no such thing as a former ambassador. He is still working on Russia-related matters and perhaps does more in this area than anyone else. Let us know. We will always be ready to help you in agriculture and mechanical engineering.
You know the economy well from your previous job, especially since you governed a neighboring region. I am sure our paths crossed in some way. I recently met with Alexander Beglov (governor of St. Petersburg — ed.) and told him that, in Soviet times, the Leningrad Region, the Kaliningrad Region and the Moscow region — not to mention the Bryansk, Smolensk and Pskov regions — were within our area of responsibility. That is how we used to put it in Soviet times, as I remember.
We are ready to return to this approach and take on a greater share of the responsibility for cooperation with these regions. Of course, Moscow is a huge metropolis, and we must be careful not to take on more than we can handle. I am almost afraid to say it, but we also have good relations with Moscow.
These regions, however, are our regions. As I said, you remember from your time as governor of the Pskov Region that we were always open to cooperation. Besides, you cannot choose your neighbors. So if you have the opportunity to help, please do so. We established relations back then and helped each other a great deal. We provided machinery, and you supplied fuel. We worked together, and we had very good relations afterward. So you have the experience. If there is anything we can do, we will always be ready to do it,” Lukashenka said.
During the meeting, Lukashenka also highlighted opportunities for tourism between the two sides.
“We rank first in this vast Eurasian region in terms of trips by Russians. We are very pleased about that. We are glad not only for the economic benefits and the money involved — Russians do not come here poor; they are well-off. We are also glad that Russians have finally seen that there are no obstacles in Belarus. We speak the same language, there are no barriers. They come here and feel at home. And Belarusians, of course, welcome Russians with great respect. Regardless of nationality, a Russian is one of our own.
I know your region well geographically and historically. I have never actually been there, although the Russian president has invited me several times. He says, ‘Come along, and I’ll show you its beauty.’ Russia has an enormous number of beautiful places. The southern part of Siberia is a very interesting region, and it is a tourist destination that interests our people,” he said.