EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
І. BELARUS
- The “presidential election” took place in January. Belarusian propaganda played an important role in ensuring the trouble-free re-election of Aliaksandr Lukashenka for the next (7th) term.
- On the eve of the “election,” the propagandists had the tasks to mobilize society against “external and internal enemies” and to strengthen Lukashenka’s image as a candidate with no alternatives, a peacemaker and reconciler, a “father of the nation” who preserves Belarus.
- As Belarus’ dependence on the Kremlin deepened, the propaganda was increasingly glorifying the alliance with Russia and the friendship of the two dictators, Putin and Lukashenka, during the pre-election period.
- As before the previous elections, Lukashenka said that this was his last re-election, that it was necessary to transfer power to the young, but in reality it did not happen again.
ІІ. BELARUS’ DEMOCRATIC FORCES
- The Lukashenka regime continues to consider free and independent Belarusians, as well as representatives of the democratic movement as the main threat to its security.
- During the electoral period, the propaganda directed its efforts to split the democratic movement and tried to convince the society that the dissident Belarusians who had left the country were going to interfere with the “free expression of will” at the voting and were preparing for a military invasion of Belarus.
- In January, Lukashenka and the propaganda threatened with repression not only the participants of protest actions abroad, but also their relatives within the country.
- Propagandists welcomed the decision of the new Trump administration to suspend American grant programs, which affected, in particular, Belarusian civic initiatives and media.
III. UKRAINE
- Belarusian propaganda follows the Kremlin’s ideological lines and repeats the main anti-Ukrainian narratives. However, during the three years of the war, it has never managed to create an image of the enemy out of Ukraine and Ukrainians in Belarusian society.
- The number and degree of aggression of anti-Ukrainian statements in the media is decreasing, giving way to calls for peace talks. Belarus demands that the negotiations be held on its territory and sees itself as a full party to them.
- Propagandists claim that Belarus (sometimes referred to as “together with Russia”) should rebuild Ukraine after the end of hostilities.
- In January, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Lukashenka called him during the first days of the full-scale aggression, apologized for the missile attacks and the offensive of Russian troops from the Belarusian territory and offered the president of Ukraine to “strike back.” The propaganda had to stand up for Lukashenka.
- With the help of state-controlled media, Lukashenka is trying to absolve himself of responsibility for complicity in the war and put it entirely on Putin, leaving him as the only culprit.
- Lukashenka uses such expressions as “our people,” “brotherly people,” etc. towards Ukrainians more and more often in his speeches.
- At the same time, the propaganda media continue to spread hatred, lies and threats against Ukraine, thus reducing Lukashenka’s “peace” efforts to zero.
IV. THE “COLLECTIVE WEST”
- The propaganda strengthens Lukashenka’s legitimacy on the basis of anti-Western myths, creating an image of a defender of Belarus from the “external threat,” around whom the population should consolidate.
- Propagandists, like the rest of the world, waited with interest for Donald Trump’s first decisions as President of the United States. Unfortunately, the reality exceeded their expectations. They enthusiastically welcomed Trump’s decree to suspend the funding of humanitarian programs, which affected, among others, Belarusian civic initiatives and independent media.
- “Experts” of propaganda channels continue to intimidate the West with nuclear weapons allegedly provided to Belarus by Russia, putting Belarus on the same level with the nuclear world powers.
- Poland and Lithuania are the main targets of Lukashenka’s anti-Western propaganda. It is claimed that these countries are preparing military formations, consisting of Belarusian “militants,” to attack Belarus and divide it among themselves.
V. IRAN AND CHINA
- Amid the deterioration of relations with the West, isolation, and the regime of Western sanctions, Belarusian propagandists increasingly turn their gaze to the East. They approve of military cooperation with North Korea and Iran and hope that China joins various “alliances of dictators.”
The entire report can be read or downloaded from this link.
The report is also available in Russian.
Материал доступен на русском языке: Роль пропаганды в «перевыборах» Лукашенко
