Alarm among the neighbours
The Belarus policy of Poland and Lithuania
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
Poland and Lithuania are following events in Belarus with a high level of interest. Many people are sympathetic towards the protest movement against the fraudulent election. They see the uprising against the Lukashenka autocracy as a continuation of their own fight against authoritarian Soviet rule. Poland and Lithuania are standard bearers of solidarity with the Belarusian civic movement. The governments of the two countries have opened their borders to citizens from Belarus and are asking the EU for support. If the discredited dictator is able to hold on to power, Warsaw and Vilnius will reduce relations with their neighbour to a minimum. However, there will be a dialogue with the executive in Minsk over technical issues such as transport, infrastructure and the safety of the Astravets nuclear power station.
(Osteuropa 10-11/2020, pp. 305–319)