DISINFO: In Belarus, Poland focuses exclusively on relations with the opposition
SUMMARY
Regarding Belarus, instead of sharing its experience of conducting a dialogue between society and the authorities, Poland will continue focusing exclusively on relations with the opposition. Despite the wishes of Warsaw, these people [opposition] have very little significance and minimal recognition in Belarus.
RESPONSE
A recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the unfriendly position of Poland towards Belarus and the Western attempts to organise a colour revolution in Belarus.
The Polish authorities have repeatedly stated that their country is interested in having good relations with Belarus. However, in light of events since August 2020, Poland has appealed to the Belarusian authorities to respect Human Rights and stop violence against society. In other words, Poland is open to all types of cooperation with the Belarusian society – the main reasons for the dramatic worsening of bilateral relations are the violent actions and aggressive statements of Alexander Lukashenka.
The claim that the Belarusian opposition has no significance and minimal recognition within Belarusian society is not confirmed by evidence. On the contrary, throughout 2020, there had been a substantial increase in popularity of alternative political leaders in Belarus. The “Golos” initiative shows that a major part of the votes for Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya was stolen by the authorities. There is no doubt that the recent Presidential elections in Belarus were not free and the results were substantially manipulated – this position is shared by the EU, OSCE, and the USA. In other words, it is clear that in a situation of massive falsification of elections, Alexander Lukashenka is not perceived as a legitimate representative of Belarusian society.
The same article contained another disinformation message about the Vatican not intending to participate in so-called American and Polish “war games” around Belarus.
See other cases on post-election developments in Belarus: The West carries out a colour revolution in Belarus and tears away Minsk from Moscow, that the protests in Belarus are a colour revolution conducted according to a Maidan scenario and that the West wants to prepare Maidan in Belarus, and that Colour revolution in Belarus failed.