Lukashenko receives top Russian honor amid closer ties with Moscow
Alexander Lukashenko received the highest Russian state decoration, the Order of St. Andrew, from Vladimir Putin on Wednesday for services to the Russian Federation. Lukashenko stated that the Belarusian people "consistently strengthen their unity with brotherly Russia."
The independent Belarusian portal Zerkalo.io reported the award, citing official media in Minsk. The order's motto is: "For Faith and Loyalty." The portal Nasza Niwa reported that Lukashenko kissed the order.
Earlier, Belarusian state media announced that Lukashenko and Putin would hold talks in Moscow regarding "issues of further development of relations" between the two countries, emphasizing "integrative cooperation within the framework of the Union State" of Belarus and Russia.
On Wednesday, Nasza Niwa recounted the history of this prestigious state decoration, which was reinstated in modern Russia in 1998 and modelled after that of the Russian Empire.
The award holds deep symbolic significance as it was historically given by Russia to the most loyal and useful individuals who distinguished themselves in the integration of Belarus into the empire's orbit - the portal emphasizes.
It seems that Putin decided to honour Lukashenko for his loyalty to Russia and his participation in the aggression against Ukraine (in February 2022, he allowed the Russian army to pass through Belarus). However, Lukashenko sees significant economic interest in this, as Russia provides him with substantial financial support, explains Alexander Klaskouski, an independent Belarusian political scientist.
Belarus increasingly dependent on Russia
Economic data show that Belarus is becoming increasingly dependent on Russia. Due to its involvement in Russian aggression, Minsk is paying a high price, losing markets in the European Union and Ukraine. Regarding imports and exports, the Belarusian economy is more than 60% reliant on the Russian market. Belarus is the only country that has agreed to the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons on its territory.
