What Do Belarusians Think About the Military Rapprochement Between Belarus and Russia?

From an “Eastern European Switzerland”, Belarus is turning into a Russian bridgehead for a possible invasion of Ukraine.

How might the military rapprochement between Minsk and Moscow affect the mood of Belarusians?

The military rapprochement between Russia and Belarus amid the crisis around Ukraine is accompanied by joint military exercises.

The Belarusian-Russian exercise “Allied Resolve 2022”, which apparently will be the largest deployment of Russian troops in Belarus since the Cold War (https://www.dw.com/ru/nato-zajavila-o-perebroske-v-belarus-30-tysjach-soldat-rf/a-60642761), will take place from 10 to 20 February.

And two days after its completion, on 22 February, early voting will begin in the referendum on the new Constitution (the referendum itself is scheduled for the 27th). https://www.dw.com/ru/kak-belorusy-vidiat-vojennoje-sblizhenoje-belarusi-s-rossijej/a-60705536#
Andrei Kazakevich, director of the Political Sphere Institute
“The military exercises held on the eve of the referendum are an attempt to use the 2015 scenario, when there were no protests because Belarusians thought that Lukashenka was better than Putin on a tank,” political scientist Vadim Mozheiko believes. “Now, against the background of the events in Kazakhstan, there is a clear demonstration: ‘Look, people protested in Kazakhstan, CSTO troops were sent there, and in our case Russian troops are already present before the referendum, before any protests.’”

Intimidation by Russian military forces on the territory of the country on the eve of the referendum benefits Lukashenka for two reasons, Andrei Kazakevich adds: “First, it inflates the external threat, which can be used to mobilize his electorate.

Second, such a tense situation, a sense of war, justifies any actions aimed at further tightening the screws and preventing possible protests or manifestations of disagreement.”

Read in full (https://www.dw.com/ru/kak-belorusy-vidiat-vojennoje-sblizhenoje-belarusi-s-rossijej/a-60705536)