Iran and the former Soviet republic of Belarus want to expand their relations. This was announced by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi during a visit by ruler Alexander Lukashenko to Tehran.
The Islamic Republic has developed new opportunities in the face of Western sanctions, said Raisi. "And we are ready to share our experience with the friendly country Belarus." Both countries are among the supporters of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and are subject to Western sanctions.
Previously, Lukashenko had been received with military honors in Tehran. According to Iranian information, a total of eight declarations of intent for closer cooperation were signed, including for the banking sector. Iran had previously agreed on closer economic and military cooperation with Russia. Lukashenko, who has been in power in Belarus for more than a quarter of a century, was in China just a few days ago.
Tichanovskaya: Lukashenko is Putin's "accomplice"
Meanwhile, Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has described Lukashenko as an “accomplice” to the Kremlin in the war of aggression against Ukraine. "He carries out all orders from (Russian President Vladimir) Putin," Tichanovskaya said on Deutschlandfunk. Attacks on Ukraine would not be possible without his approval. Lukashenko is selling his country's independence bit by bit.
"We see a Russian occupation not only militarily, but they also occupy Belarus in the media, in the economic sphere," Tichanovskaya continued. "The only thing Lukashenko still controls inside Belarus today is repression." Lukashenko has been in power in the former Soviet republic for more than a quarter of a century. Critics call him "Europe's last dictator".
The EU has not recognized him as head of state since the 2020 election, which was marked by numerous manipulation scandals. With the backing of Russia, he brutally suppressed mass protests. Since then he has been considered dependent on Putin. Lukashenko makes his country available as a deployment area for the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Tichanovskaya ran against Lukashenko in 2020. She now lives in exile in Lithuania. In her homeland she was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
