Name? Alexander Lukashenko
Westphalian identity? Belarusian
Age? 66
Why is he in the news? After last month’s forced landing of a Ryanair flight to seize prominent Belarusian dissident Roman Protasevich, the EU has increased painful sanctions against Alexander Lukashenko. However, he is responding and targeting the EU where it hurts the most, migration. And of course the country Lukashenko is picking on the most is also the country hosting prominent Belarusian opposition politicians, Lithuania.
Why do we care? Because the Lukashenko regime is flying refugees from Iraq and Syria to Belarus and then sending them towards their shared border with EU member state Lithuania. Since the Ryanair incident, migrant inflows into Lithuania have been 20 times higher than before. This marks a serious escalation between the EU and Belarus, indicating that the latest round of sanctions really hurt Lukashenko.
Why should you care? Apart from the weaponization of migration, which is a pretty distasteful move by Lukashenko but not too uncommon for regimes targeting the EU, this does not affect your day to day lives in any meaningful way. That said, you should still care 4/10.
Who else cares? Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte has recently announced that Lithuania is increasing border patrols and planning some form of physical barrier against migrants. The Lithuanian government also asked the Greek government how to get rid of immigrants — oh pardon our English we meant — shorten the asylum process down to 10 days even when migrants have no papers.
Any further comments? By recalling its envoy to Brussels and suspending participation in the EU’s Eastern Partnership program, Lukashenko is cutting more and more ties with the EU and driving himself more and more into the arms of his only remaining ally (puppet master), or what does Lukashenko call Russian President Vladimir Putin? Furthermore, by creating a feeling of conflict against the Western world, Lukashenko attempts to mobilise the country’s elite and encourage his supporters to defend the regime.
