Price Of Lukashenka's Words, His Guarantees

• YEVGENY MAGDA
• 25.08.2023, 13:11

It was funny two months ago, it's still funny now.

When on the evening of August 23rd people in the post-Soviet and not only space were discussing whether Prigozhin had died, I was laughing. Because after reports of his death, he had already died politically. And for such a character, it is political death that matters most. That's first of all.

Secondly, a subject who was carrying out a lot of delicate assignments for Putin died a violent death. The world should pay attention to the fact that Prigozhin will now not give any testimony, will not go to The Hague. I think this is a disadvantage.

The third thing is that Putin has demonstrated the value of his word and the practice of his actions: there is a moratorium on the death penalty, so let's eliminate the man along with the plane. I think if they didn't have accurate information about what business jet Prigozhin was in, they would have shot both of them down. The principle "no man, no problem" works all the time in Russia.

And the fourth is that the structure of Wagner and Prigozhin's own business have been preserved all the time, so there is the question of who will lead them. Most of the Wagner employees are dependent on the authorities: they either got released on parole or signed a contract. So I won't risk to say that everything is calm and good now.

The fifth is the price of Lukashenka's word and his guarantees. It was ridiculous two months ago, when Lukashenka was puffing up his cheeks and promising Prigozhin a good life. It is funny now, when it turned out that his guarantee lasts so short. This is not surprising with regard to Lukashenka. I think the Kremlin didn't consider him then and doesn't consider him today. There are no surprises.

Yevgeny Magda, kyky.org