Opinion: Lukashenko’s self-command during Machulishchi incident exemplary for major statesman

An extremely rapid disclosure of the details of the Machulishchi incident indicates that Belarus’ national security is really ensured, and the country’s state border is reliably guarded – as noted by Vadim Gigin, the Chairman of the Republican Znanie Belarusian Society, in his talk with Alfa Radio, while commenting on the recent ceremony of presenting state awards and epaulettes to senior officers by President Aleksandr Lukashenko

During the ceremony, the Head of State informed on the detention of a terrorist of the Ukrainian special services and his accomplices in Belarus; these persons were involved in an attempt to sabotage an A-50 aircraft at the Machulishchi airfield.

“Such a rapid disclosure of this crime indicates that we really ensure national security, and we reliably guard our section of the border – or even the front in a sense, let's put it bluntly. The warfare is now in full swing in different spheres – not only at the battlefield, but in the informational, psychological and ideological spheres. Belarus has starkly worked in this respect,” Mr. Gigin said.   

Commenting on why that provocation was arranged, the expert noted that not only a damage to the aircraft was planned: the political and informational goals were of a greater importance at that stage.

“Firstly, it was definitely an attempt to somehow split Russia and Belarus, since the Machulishchi object is Belarusian, while the combat flight equipment located there – like that aircraft – is Russian. Secondly, they [Ukraine’s Security Service and the CIA leadership] wanted to show some of our vulnerability. Thirdly, they tried to disrupt the most important visit which the attention of whole world was attracted to: of Belarus’ President to China. Actually, that meeting of Aleksandr Lukashenko and Xi Jinping was one of the major international events of recent times. Of course, they pursued the goal of expanding the zone of escalation and armed conflict. All those factors were present at that stage,” the expert noted.

Mr. Gigin added that, during the incident in Machulishchi, the Belarusian side acted with restraint, and words did not outstrip actions, “The self-command that Aleksandr Lukashenko showed in that matter is exemplary for a really great statesman. In addition, it is interesting to look at the reaction from the other side. After all, everything is clearly revealed, we have shown it and will once again show all the details of this case, as well as other failed attempts to arrange armed sabotage on the territory of the Republic of Belarus. We observe a reaction of impotence and anger of the West. They are trying to make fun of us, accuse us of something. Who actually distributed the fakes that the aircraft had been allegedly destroyed completely? We knew about the plane – possessing exactly the same information that the President has shared. There are scratches on the plane and a small hole, but the most important part of the aircraft is not damaged, and the main equipment is in service. We just let the enemy do something stupid, talk nonsense, and they could not understand why Belarus’ reaction was absent, why Minsk kept silence. When the President explained everything, it became clear that it was the puppets [of the West] who were telling fakes.”