Special services fight for survival or a signal from the Kremlin? / Article / LSM.lv

In Belarus, telephone conversations have been leaked in connection with an incident in which a Minsk resident was beaten to death in an exchange of words with people who removed symbols of the democratic movement in a courtyard in Minsk. Experts admit that the leak of such talks could indicate that a struggle for survival has begun within the regime of the authoritarian head of state Alexander Lukashenko, but the role of the Kremlin is not ruled out.

IN SHORT:

• Kickboxing champion Shakuta and Hockey Federation leader Baskov are blamed for his death.
• They may have beaten a man who did not allow white-red and white ribbons to be cut in the yard.
• In Belarus, telephone conversations have been leaked, as if between Shakuta and Baskov.
• The man’s beating was discussed in these talks.
• Baskov denies the accusations, Shakuta does not comment.
• The talks may have been leaked to prove that OMON is to blame for the man’s death.
• This may mean that a struggle for survival has begun within the regime.
• The services are thinking about the future and want to pass on the responsibility for what has happened to others.
• Another version: The leak is a signal from the Kremlin.
• The Kremlin can give a hint – it’s not just in the pockets of its services.

On the evening of November 11, unknown people in civilian clothes and face masks arrived in one of Minsk’s courtyards to remove white-red and white ribbons tied by opposition activists. There was a conflict with the population. The strangers also attacked 31-year-old Roman Bandarenka, who was later taken to a minibus and taken to a part of the militia, and from there to a hospital, where the next day Bandarenka mira.

Bandarenko landed and beat world boxing champion Dmitry Shakuta, and Dmitry Baskov, President of the Belarusian Hockey Federation, was also present. Both were identified by eyewitness videos.

A few days later, the news channel Nexta published telephone conversations in which two men, whose voices are very similar to those of Shakuta and Baskov, discuss the circumstances of Bandarenka’s death. According to Belarusian political analysts, the talks are unlikely to be fake.

Excerpt from the conversation:

– In short. Natasha had already left, met, talked to each other. Now it’s clear. Warned everyone – whatever, we were nowhere to be found.
– Not.
– Here. It will now be clear what and how.
– Let it be clear.
– How could these him, unconscious bļ .. *** hand over to the militia part ..b .. .. they tak would not accept. But these call me and say – what did you do to him What did you make him unconscious? I say – what ??
– Clear. The question is worded in such a way as to remove liability.

Shakuta has not answered the journalists’ questions. Baskov, on the other hand, rejected the allegations, saying that he had nothing to do with the accusations, due to his civic stance, which did not agree with the protesters.

In Belarus, no one can listen in on the phone and record conversations except the State Security Committee or the Ministry of Interior. And this is possible in another case – if the conversations are recorded by the participants themselves in order to direct the course of events to the desired bed. Namely, in order to create the opinion, with the support of the Lukashenko administration, that the responsibility for the murder of Roman Bandarenka lies not with the friends of Lukashenko’s circles, but with the Omani people, who no one can heal.

Excerpt from the conversation:

– What could they have done if he was in such a serious situation?
– I do not know. Everything is possible in the car. Expert on the abdomen, bl – then spleen rupture. I don’t know what else.
– Well .. spleen rupture – this is understandable. But a skull brain injury has been discovered here. He was sleeping on the bus lying on his bus.
– You see a situation .. You saw for yourself that we .. it is – I ran, I knocked him down. I didn’t turn him off. Not me, bļ ***.
– Yes. Of course.
– Well. Took his hands, feet, he hugged, ble *** and pulled ..

The announcement of the talks may indicate that a struggle for survival has begun within the regime. Sooner or later, but there will be a great deal of clarification – who is to blame for beating and killing people. And competing home affairs services will try to get each other and pass the buck.

The published telephone conversations concern both Mr Lukashenko’s loved ones and the Interior Ministry, which is run by the militia, the OMON and other force and punishment bodies that persecute demonstrators and critics of the regime. So it can be considered a targeted blow.

An excerpt from the conversation was also published, in which Lukashenko’s press secretary Natasha Eismont and the head of the Hockey Federation Dmitry Baskov organize a group to drive to remove the white-red-and-white ribbons left by opposition demonstrators:

– Dima, let’s walk or drive through the yards.
– OK good.
– If we’ve come here before. It seems to us – if you go deeper into the yards, there are ribbons and wall drawings and everything could definitely be. If we’re already here, let’s take a look. And then let’s think about where to go next.
– Yes, okay.
– Listen .. there further .. there are tapes along the side of the road. Alexander Petrovich suggested that we leave quickly and cut off, but he himself will be nearby with OMON and cover us.
– OK good. I’m driving.
– We’re coming back. There were still tapes on the other side of the yard. Barsukov suggested that we return. Alone. As winners. And we continue to rotate calmly. They will be near us ..
– Got it. We are driving behind you.

Another version, the leak, could have been an operation by Russia’s Federal Security Service or intelligence service to put pressure on Alexander Lukashenko and show how easy it is to “sneak” into Belarus’s political environment and Lukashenko’s elite. In this way, the Kremlin gives a clear hint – it is not the only thing that is stored in the deep pockets of its services.

The online publication Belarusskij partizan quotes former KGB Colonel Valery Kostka as saying that such audio recordings are not leaked in the same way.

Wednesday, November 25 The Russian Foreign Minister arrives in Minsk Sergei Lavrov, who is called Vladimir Putin’s postman. Shortly after the release of the audio recordings, there were unofficial rumors that the 2021 World Hockey Championship could be transferred from Belarus to Russia.

CONTEXT:

Following the August 9 presidential election, Alexander was declared the winner Lukashenko, Protests and strikes continue in Belarus. People believe that the election results are fake. They also oppose police violence by detaining protesters.

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