What Lukashenko Said About Kazakhstan

In interviews, the President of the Republic of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, often uses phrases that become memes and online sayings. Sometimes, he takes the liberty of making less-than-tactful statements about the states that are partners and allies of his country despite Belarus having so few. Orda has looked into the matter.

Selfish

In August 2024, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko expressed in an interview with Rossiya TV that some post-Soviet countries seek to benefit from the Russian Federation without offering anything in return. These statements may be related to what is unfolding in Russia's Kursk region. However, as usual, Russian television maintains reservations about such topics.

We are, in fact, in the same boat as Russia. If it capsizes, we will sink together. There is no point in hiding our allied relations. We do not behave like some other countries that only want to take from Russia without giving anything back, Lukashenko stated.

He added that this situation cannot continue.

The time is not far off when you will have to turn to Russia for support. In a crisis, as it was in Kazakhstan, everyone turns to Putin for help. And we (the CSTO) responded quickly by sending forces there and calming the unrest, added the President of the Republic of Belarus.

He expressed confidence that the CIS countries will again turn to Russia and Belarus for help. The President also emphasized the importance of maintaining economic ties in the post-Soviet space.

Who awaits goods from Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan in America or the EU? No, they are trying to sell to Russia. We have a common market, and it makes no sense to lose it,  Lukashenko believes.

In the same interview, he also spoke about Armenia.

What kind of politics is this? Who needs Armenians except us? No one needs them. Let them develop their economy and focus on what they have. France? Macron? Tomorrow, Macron will be gone, and everyone will forget about this Armenia, Lukashenko claimed.

Retaliating, a group of activists threw eggs at the Belarusian embassy in Yerevan, shouting the slogan "Leave Armenia!"

The Kazakh Foreign Ministry has also responded, albeit diplomatically. They summoned the Belarusian ambassador, stressing that Astana complies with the UN Charter, and called for resolving disagreements through diplomacy.

The Republic of Belarus should objectively assess Kazakhstan's position "concerning current processes," said Deputy Head of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry Murat Nurtleu at the meeting with Belarusian Ambassador Pavel Utyupin:

Kazakhstan pursues a balanced and peaceful foreign policy per the UN Charter and fundamental norms of international law. Our country is firmly convinced that all disagreements between states should be resolved through political and diplomatic means.

Astana emphasized that the country's pursuit of foreign policy in the current geopolitical conditions has proven effective.

Greetings Elbasy

In June 2023, Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu visited Belarus. At a meeting with Lukashenko, they discussed strengthening bilateral relations. But even then, Lukashenko made "comments."

We can state today that relations between Belarus and Kazakhstan are at a very high level, but, as the athletes say, there is still work to be done, he said.

He then conveyed his greetings to the current and first presidents of Kazakhstan.

If possible, please convey my best wishes to the first president of Kazakhstan, with whom we worked a lot, Nursultan Abishevich, added Alexander Lukashenko.

This is notable, considering other state leaders do not mention the first president. And in our country, as part of de-Elbasization, it is not worth bringing him up if unnecessary  — the authorities are not fans.

In the same dialogue, he emphasized that he is closely monitoring all changes in Kazakhstan and taking note of them.

Nukes For Everyone

Lukashenko has previously "advised" our country on how it should behave internationally.

On May 28 last year, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko proposed that Kazakhstan and other post-Soviet countries join the union of Belarus and Russia to have closer access to nuclear weapons and the ability to use them.

I don't think Qasym-Jomart Toqayev is worried about this. But if he is, then no one is against Kazakhstan and other countries having the same close relations as we have with the Russian Federation. Joining the Belarus and Russia union is a must - and there will be enough nuclear weapons for everyone! he said in an interview with the Rossiya TV.

At that time, Qasym-Jomart Toqayev was on a working trip to the North Kazakhstan region. The trip did not stop him from responding in a field.

"The other day, the President of the Republic of Belarus suggested that Kazakhstan join the Union State. I appreciated his joke. I think there is no need for this, as there are other integration associations, primarily the Eurasian Economic Union. As for nuclear weapons, we do not need them, as we have joined the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Treaty on the Ban of Nuclear Weapons. We remain faithful to our obligations under these international documents, he noted.

Kazakhstan Сannot Be Given up

During the January events, Kazakhstan reached out to the CSTO. Belarus is a member. At that time, Lukashenko commented as follows:

We understand perfectly well that Kazakhstan cannot be given up. Even our journalists said that it cannot be given up. Because it would be such a gift... Well, like Ukraine for America and NATO, that's how it is there, said Lukashenko.

He claimed it was attempted foreign meddling and called for the "bandits" to be dealt with.

We are very concerned about what is happening with one of our main allies - Kazakhstan. The people are suffering. Kazakhstan has set alight, major cities are ablaze,
  the President of the Republic of Belarus stated.

Kyrgyzstan..?

If Putin has had trouble pronouncing our president’s patronymic, Lukashenko has confused our country with another Central Asian nation.

In October 2021, at a meeting with the leaders of the EAEU countries, which was held via video conference, Lukashenko confused the countries when handing over the floor to Toqayev.

In accordance with the order of functioning of our union, I would like to transfer the authority to organize and conduct our session today to the President of Kyrgyzstan... to the President of Kazakhstan... to Mr. Toqayev, Lukashenko said at the end of his speech. 

Toqayev responded to Lukashenko’s slip of the tongue with a smile.

Original Author: Artem Volkov