VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSK #0793/01 2010849
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 200849Z JUL 05
FM AMEMBASSY MINSK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2590
INFO RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS MINSK 000793 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON BO
SUBJECT: Lukashenko Has No Friends Or Money 
 
Ref: Minsk 440 
 
¶1. Summary:  Famous Russian journalist Oleg Poptsov 
recently interviewed President Lukashenko on the Russian 
TV channel "Tsentr".  Poptsov, previously known for his 
pro-democratic stance, surprisingly agreed with 
Lukashenko on most topics and portrayed Lukashenko as an 
honorable president.  Lukashenko lambasted the 
opposition, praised his corruption-free government, and 
slammed Russia's lack of assistance to Belarus.  On a 
more personal side, Lukashenko claimed to be a poor 
public servant, with little money and few friends, who 
would die defending his country.  End summary. 
 
 
Luka's Take on the Opposition 
----------------------------- 
 
¶2. On July 11, Russia's channel "TV Tsentr" broadcast 
writer Oleg Poptsov's June 2 interview with President 
Lukashenko.  The original interview lasted three hours, 
but only 20 minutes of the interview made it to TV. 
Lukashenko first lambasted the opposition and explained 
why they behave irresponsibly.  According to the 
president, the small prosperous faction of the 
opposition, which he claimed to be part of, joined his 
government when he came to power.  Lukashenko claimed 
that, unlike what is currently happening in Ukraine 
where the new government has arrested, threatened to 
arrest, or fired 19,000 Kuchma-era officials, he let 
most incumbent government employees keep their jobs and 
made sure no one harmed his rivals.  Today's opposition 
is much different, composed of lazy former government 
officials and "mercenaries", meaning nationalists or pro- 
Westerners who support any idea for a profit. 
 
¶3. Lukashenko proceeded to speak of the opposition's 
reaction to his decree renaming Skaryna and Masherova 
Avenues to Independence and Victors' Avenues.  Though 
the opposition claims to favor independence, they 
opposed the street names simply because it was 
Lukashenko's idea.  "Even if I did something that was 
written in their manifesto they would still oppose it." 
[Note: Poptsov, agreeing with every word, gave an 
agreeable chuckle.]  The president admitted he did not 
like the opposition and told Poptsov that Russians would 
not like it if such an opposition existed in Russia. 
 
¶4. The president strongly stated that there is no base 
for a revolution in Belarus because conditions that 
fomented revolutions in Ukraine, Georgia, and Kyrgyzia 
do not exist.  However, some nations continue to smuggle 
money across Belarus' borders to fund the opposition and 
their revolutionary goals.  The president cited the 
arrest of a Lithuanian who allegedly tried to bring USD 
200,000 into the country (reftel) and claimed that the 
border with Russia is also a trafficking route. 
Lukashenko wished the Belarusian opposition was more 
like the Russian opposition, which openly expresses its 
opinion but does not want to see the country "fall 
apart". 
 
 
Education 
--------- 
 
¶5. Poptsov praised Lukashenko for his attention to the 
youth and their education in Belarus.  Lukashenko 
responded that education, not health, is most important 
for an individual. According to Lukashenko, a healthy 
person without an education is just a healthy fool. 
Healthy fools are no good for society. 
 
 
The President is Poor 
--------------------- 
 
¶6. According to Lukashenko, he receives a frugal salary 
of USD 1,200 a month and his ministers receive USD 800, 
which the president referred to as "ridiculous." 
However, Lukashenko said that he (rather than referring 
to the government) provides all ministers and important 
officials benefits, such as free apartments in Minsk and 
transportation.  Lukashenko told Poptsov that in the 
village of Drozdi, he had built "little" cottages for 
the ministers next to his own. [Note: The cottages are 
actually quite large.]  Lukashenko asked Poptsov to 
imagine being a minister in Belarus and living next door 
to the president.  This is so that ministers can relax 
with greater security (or so Lukashenko claimed). 
¶7. Referring back to his low salary, Lukashenko claimed 
he had no assets, not even an apartment or money hidden 
away.  He gave a sad story of how his sons had asked him 
what would happen when he is no longer president. 
Poptsov admitted it was a good question and Lukashenko 
agreed.  The president claimed he was in a corner, since 
he is an honest man (and 99 percent of Belarusians 
believe so), he cannot legally provide his children with 
an apartment because he does not have any money. [Note: 
One of his sons reportedly just imported a yellow 
Lamborghini.]  If he loses the presidency, he would have 
to take out a loan to buy a home.  Lukashenko hopes that 
after his tenure, he would receive a house or some place 
to live.  If not, he would find a job and build an 
apartment, but this would not be normal, as he has done 
a lot for the country. 
 
 
Not a Corrupt President 
----------------------- 
 
¶8. The president fervently denied having money hidden in 
foreign countries.  He referred to the opposition's 
claims that he stole USD 17 billion from Belarus, noting 
that the amount is three times Belarus' 2004 budget and 
impossible to hide without the public's notice.  "Even 
if I stole only two million, where is it?"  Lukashenko 
told the story of when President Bush wanted to freeze 
all Lukashenko's "alleged" foreign accounts and 
Lukashenko in return sent Bush his income statement. 
 
¶9. Lukashenko named himself a specialist in battling 
corruption, noting his term as head of Parliament's anti- 
corruption commission.  Lukashenko claimed he shows no 
leniency to friends or colleagues who misappropriate 
funds, embezzle, or take brides and noted how he has 
punished longtime allies for corruption.  According to 
the president, the public sees how he treats his 
children and close allies and understands that his 
attitude towards everyone else will be the same.  A 
leader should not forgive any mistakes or encourage 
wrong behavior. 
 
 
I Have No Friends 
----------------- 
 
¶10. Another sad moment occurred when Poptsov remarked 
how solitude comes with the presidency.  Lukashenko 
admitted that he had hit a soft spot and that as time 
goes by, feelings of loneliness increases.  He, unlike 
Putin, does not have a close circle of friends or 
colleagues.  Lukashenko admitted he envied Moscow Mayor 
Yury Luzhkov's ability to make friends from all walks of 
life, but claimed he just does not have the same 
personality as Luzhkov.  However, Lukashenko does enjoys 
the company of artists, singers, and composers and finds 
enjoyment when he and his associates, on rare occasions, 
play hockey. [Note: The camera showed pictures of 
Lukashenko, in slow motion, by himself, often with his 
head down with melancholic music playing in the 
background.] 
 
 
Go Out Kicking and Screaming 
---------------------------- 
 
¶11. Lukashenko told Poptsov that he, as president, 
defends Belarusians and not his power or his riches. 
[Note: Lukashenko quickly corrected his statement and 
said "alleged" riches.]  He compared himself to former 
President of Chile Salvador Allende, in that he would 
defend his people, state, and power "with weapons in my 
hands, alone if necessary." Lukashenko called himself a 
man of ideals, principles, and pride.  According to 
Lukashenko, the opposition knows of these 
characteristics and for this reason, would not attempt a 
revolution. 
 
 
Belarusian Elite More Honest 
---------------------------- 
 
¶12. Lukashenko opined that a Belarus-Russia Union is 
needed to thwart any revolutionary attempts in either 
country.  The Union should give equal rights to both 
Belarusian and Russian citizens, but the Russian elite 
should agree to compete with their less numerous, but 
more honest, principled, educated, and dedicated 
Belarusian counterparts.  According to Lukashenko, 
Russia is not ready for this. 
 
¶13. Poptsov did not understand Lukashenko's comment and 
quickly replied that a Belarus-Russia Union should focus 
on a unified elite, not a competing one.  Lukashenko 
interrupted and accused Poptsov (as Poptsov is part of 
the Russian elite) of planning to bribe Belarusian 
officials and intelligentsia in order to keep them idle. 
 
¶14. Lukashenko then warned Poptsov, as he allegedly did 
Putin, that Russia would regret losing Belarus.  "The 
Japanese lay claim to some islands in Russia's control. 
I say that the Russian leadership could give back the 
islands, which would be difficult for Russia, but she 
would live.  But if Russia loses Belarus, the Russian 
people will never forgive and will not survive." 
 
 
Russian TV Is A Lie 
------------------- 
 
¶15. Lukashenko commented on Russian television, accusing 
it of insulting and confusing the Belarusian people. 
When TV personalities or shows discuss what is happening 
in Belarus, they do not tell the truth.  This is not 
because the television stations want to lie, but because 
Anatoly Chubais orders them to do so.  According to 
Russian TV, Russia is helping to prevent revolutions or 
drastic changes in Belarus by selling coal and energy 
resources to Belarus at cheaper prices.  Lukashenko 
called this a farce and claimed that for the last five 
years, Belarus has purchased oil, metal and other 
resources from Russia at world prices (except for 
natural gas). 
 
 
Russia Gives Nothing 
-------------------- 
 
¶16. Lukashenko told Poptsov that Russia has done nothing 
for Belarus.  Lukashenko noted how Russia pays Kazakstan 
USD 190 million per year for using the Baikonur 
spaceport on its territory.  However, Russia does not 
pay Belarus for its bases that communicate with 
submarines in the Atlantic and warn of American missile 
attacks.  According to Lukashenko, Russia owes Belarus 
roughly USD 800 million dollars for the upkeep of the 
two bases. 
 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶17. Lukashenko's claims that he and his ministers live 
on less than USD 1000 are far from the truth.  He lives 
in a large house on the outskirts of Minsk and Emboffs 
heard rumors that his son recently purchased a new 
Lamborghini while many government officials are driving 
new Mercedes, BMWs, Hummers, etc. around town. 
Lukashenko recently purchased a Boeing 737 to ferry him 
and his personal hockey team around.  The clips of 
Lukashenko as a man of the people who efficiently runs 
the government at the expense of riches and friendship 
fly in the face of reality. 
 
¶18. Such an interview that portrays Lukashenko as a 
heroic president and allows him to stand on his soapbox 
would be expected in Belarus' state-controlled media, 
but not on Russian television, which is usually critical 
of the Belarusian President.  TV Tsentr, however, is 
owned by Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov.  The station also 
reportedly has two reporters in Minsk who will create 
five glowing news programs on Belarus each week.  A 
reliable Embassy source who met with the reporters 
claimed these programs are being funded by Pavel Borodin 
from the Union State budget. 
 
KROL