Lukashenko Uncovered Another Conspiracy Against Himself

• 17.06.2025, 17:48

This time it's potato.

- It's been a long time since such a thing happened. We have already forgotten about this peculiarity of the world perception by the main character of the Belarusian political scene of the last 30+ years, writes political scientist Valery Karbalevich for "Pozirk":

June 10, visiting the film studio "Belarusfilm", Lukashenko suddenly forgot about the movie and started talking about potatoes. And found a very peculiar explanation for the absurd circumstance that this strategic product had suddenly disappeared in the long-standing potato region.

It turned out that it was the result of a conspiracy: "When I checked the State Control Committee of some figures, it turns out that it was a matter of politics. There was enough bulba. But somewhere held back to show that, here, the president interfered in pricing, so here is the result." Well, and when the SCC "came with handcuffs, put it on the table - the bulb appeared.

Two days later, at a meeting with the leadership of his administration, Lukashenko returned to this topic: "We started to deal with large networks. When [state control] comes, there's nowhere to put potatoes. They have it in the warehouse. Why is it not on the shelves? Politics. It is necessary to show that the authorities have crushed prices to such an extent that it is impossible to live on. That is to say, we have stepped on the pain point of these peddlers. As [inspectors] came by, potatoes appeared... They took out handcuffs and put them on the table in front of someone. It will be cruel".

Those who have been closely following Lukashenko's political biography will see nothing new or surprising in revealing another conspiracy. He has been exposing various conspiratorial activities of his enemies all his life.

The reasons for this political positioning are manifold. First of all, much is tied to personality traits. There is excessive suspicion, distrust even of his closest associates, expectation of a trick.

Lukashenko is characterized by simple explanations of complex problems. The Belarusian ruler considers the issues of public life from the position, as he himself says, of "common sense" ("one should go from life, from the earth"), i.e. his thinking is limited to the frames of ordinary consciousness.

It is known that any populist politician strives to give simple answers to complex questions, simplifies politics to the level of understanding of an average person.

Explanation of any difficulties by the intrigues of enemies is a standard characteristic of mythologems and political decisions of any dictatorship in general and the Belarusian regime in particular, based on them. This plus conspiracy view of the world of Lukashenko himself creates an amazing cocktail.

The current "conspiracy of peddlers", who allegedly created an artificial shortage of potatoes to spite Lukashenko, fits well into the official political course, writes the political scientist:

- Since Lukashenko sees the causes of all problems in the state and society in the insidious intrigues of enemies, the answer to these actions is also universal - brute force. He is sure that the more it is used, the better. That is why his story that the potato shortage was overcome with the help of handcuffs is very revealing.

Thus, the constant use of brute force is a logical consequence of the concept of conspiracy.

The only response of the present authorities to the new challenges is the reliance on naked violence, which has been elevated to a cult, political repression, which has become unprecedented. Violence is being routinized, it is becoming a way of existence of the regime.