Why is Belarus under Western pressure?

Dmitry Zhuk, a member of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus and chief editor of the publishing house "Belarus Today", criticized Western actions in the post-Soviet space. According to him, Western countries have viewed Belarus as "legitimate prey" after the collapse of the Soviet Union and have attempted to impose economic and ideological pressure on it.

Zhuk notes that as a result, the "colossal decline in living standards, galloping inflation" in the country particularly affected the youth, who began to feel uncertain about their future. In Zhuk's opinion, Alexander Lukashenko's rise to power in 1994 served as a delay of national bankruptcy and ensured the preservation of factories, social guarantees, and economic stability.

He explains that overcoming periods of instability was possible thanks to "tough, controversial" policies that prevented societal decay.

The commentator emphasized that initiatives such as the "Editors' Club" help address such issues more deeply and openly.

Context

After the dissolution of the USSR, in 1994 Alexander Lukashenko became president of Belarus, strengthening control over the economy and social sphere.