[Zhang Fei]

Russia, it must be said, squandered it's popularity and any chance of a willing reunion. Russian interests - mostly Putin cronies - have conspired to capture all of Belarus's most valuable economic assets. For example, they now own all the pipelines through Belarus.

Ownership of assets in a foreign land is always iffy, especially if the host government can make it painfully expensive to protect your assets. Lukashenko has figured out that Belarus is the next domino, and is looking for ways to make it too costly for Putin to invade. He had better move fast.

[dfwgator]

The thing is Lukashenko is even more of a Commie than Putin is.

[SeeSharp]

He had better move fast.

I think he's been living on borrowed time for a decade or more already. Who is going to come to his aid? Luka has no friends anywhere. The most he can hope for are protests from places like the 'Stans. But they can't help him. They are on the menu too.