So, Tsikhanouskaya's still at it, huh? Five years after the stolen election, she's still trying to get Europe to pay attention to Belarus. And what's her angle this time? That Belarus is a "strategic importance" that Europe is foolishly ignoring. Give me a break.
The "Symbiotic Friendship" of Dictators
She's right about one thing: Lukashenko is Putin's puppet. A "symbiotic friendship," she calls it. More like a parasite-host relationship, if you ask me. Putin gets a cheap ally, and Lukashenko gets to cling to power. What a deal. For them, anyway. The rest of us? We get a front-row seat to a slow-motion annexation.
Tsikhanouskaya says the Belarusian people have "clearly made a geopolitical choice toward Europe." Really? How can anyone clearly choose anything under "Stalinist-level repression"? People are operating "somewhat underground," she says. Yeah, because the alternative is a one-way ticket to prison.
And this talk about Russia building a weapons factory in Belarus... I mean, come on. Is anyone actually surprised? It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion. We all know where this is headed. The question is, does anyone care enough to do anything about it?
She even mentions that even officials resent Lukashenko giving up Belarusian independence. But... are these anonymous officials going to do anything about it? Or are they just going to keep their heads down and collect their paychecks? I'm betting on the latter.
Provocations and "Unidentified Objects"
Tsikhanouskaya warns about "provocations on the borders with Poland and Lithuania." Drones, contraband crossings, "unidentified objects" flying over borders... It's like a bad spy movie, only it's real life. And Europe's response? Hand-wringing and border security. Great. Polish border guards find smuggling drone from Belarus.
She's trying to make everyone understand that Belarus isn't just a humanitarian crisis – political prisoners, repression, etc. – but a security crisis. That Europe will "never truly feel safe" as long as Lukashenko's in power. Okay, fair point. But what's the solution? More sanctions? More strongly worded condemnations? Because those seem to be working so well.
And then there's the nuclear weapons. If they ever get used, she says, they'll "likely be launched from Belarusian territory." Cheery thought, ain't it? It's like setting up a fireworks factory next to a daycare center. What could possibly go wrong?
The Trump Card (Again)
Then she thanks Trump for getting political prisoners released. Which... okay. Good for them. But let's not pretend Lukashenko did it out of the goodness of his heart. He sees "human lives as bargaining chips," she says. He releases a few prisoners, hoping for concessions and recognition. It's "pure cynicism." You think? Freed in Trump deal: Prisoners in exile tell of brutality behind bars in Belarus
She's worried about Lukashenko cozying up to the U.S., using dialogue as "proof of his own strength." That he'll trade prisoners for sanctions relief, then use that to pressure the EU. It's a game of three-dimensional chess, and Lukashenko's been playing it for decades.
But here's the thing: is Tsikhanouskaya actually offering any new solutions? Or is she just repeating the same warnings, hoping someone will finally listen? Because, honestly, it's starting to sound like a broken record.
So, What's the Endgame Here?
What's the play here? Does Tsikhanouskaya have a plan that goes beyond "raise awareness" and "hope for the best"? Because if not, this whole thing is just a slow-motion tragedy. And Europe's just standing by, watching it unfold.
