The leaked document from the Moscow presidential administration is 17 pages long. It is entitled ‘Strategic Goals of the Russian Federation in Belarus’ and contains a detailed plan for the annexation of Belarus by 2030.
German publications Süddeutsche Zeitung, Westdeutscher Rundfunk, and Norddeutscher Rundfunk have evaluated the document together with nine other European media. Experts and Western intelligence services were also consulted and the general consensus is that the document is genuine.
It dates from the summer of 2021 and proves that the Kremlin is planning the restoration of Greater Russia. The document lists strategic objectives in Belarus and proves that Russia plans to infiltrate Belarus in the following areas: Politics/Defence, Trade/Economy, and Society.
Russia’s policy towards Belarus
Here, the implementation of the goals is divided into ‘short-term’ (by 2022), ‘medium-term’ (by 2025) and ‘long-term’ (2030). These goals are largely consistent with Russia’s policy toward Belarus in the 1990s.
Michael Carpenter, US ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), told Süddeutsche Zeitung:
Russia’s goals with regards to Belarus are the same as with Ukraine. Only in Belarus, it relies on coercion rather than war. Its end goal is still wholesale incorporation.
© 2023, GDC. © GDC and www.globaldefensecorp.com. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to www.globaldefensecorp.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.