Putin Plans to Integrate Belarus into Russia: Secret Document

A document from the internal authorities of the Russian Federation has come to light, compiled by a group of journalists from various countries, titled "Strategic Objectives of the Russian Federation Regarding Belarusian Direction." According to the journalists, this document states that Russia plans to fully seize Belarus’ foreign policy, economy, and military potential by 2030, reports Hetq.am.

The planning for this project was conducted in 2021. The journalists note that the document consists of 17 pages, outlining the political, defense, commercial, and social objectives of the Russian authorities in Belarus. These are divided into short-term (by 2022), medium-term (by 2025), and long-term (by 2030) goals.

According to the document, by 2030, Russian authorities will have adapted Belarusian legislation to that of Russia, will control the foreign policy of the republic, and will conduct it in accordance with Russia’s interests. Additionally, there will be an increased military presence within that country.

Russia also plans to subject Belarus’ information system to its governance, increase the number of Russian media outlets, achieve the dominance of the Russian language over Belarusian, and provide Belarusian citizens with easier access to Russian citizenship “for the creation of a layer of Russians interested in integration.”

Furthermore, according to the journalists, the Russian authorities intend to expand their influence through Belarusian educational and scientific systems. Plans include opening Russian universities in Belarus and organizing unified entrance exams, as well as establishing Russian scientific and cultural centers in Mogilev, Grodno, and Vitebsk.

The journalists indicate that the Russian authorities plan to utilize the Union State Treaty, signed by both countries in 1999, to implement their plans. Negotiations regarding this treaty have been ongoing for nearly two decades. In 2019, it was announced that the two countries had managed to agree on 28 union programs concerning economic issues, including the harmonization of monetary policy and tax legislation.

The development of the plan involved the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the Main Intelligence Directorate, the Foreign Intelligence Service of Russia, the Federal Security Service, and the Border Cooperation Department of the Presidential Administration of Russia, headed by Alexey Filatov. Filatov previously represented Kremlin interests in South Ossetia and Abkhazia and coordinated humanitarian and political support for the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics.

"Dossier" reports that the journalists showed the document to external experts, who confirmed its authenticity and that it should be taken seriously. Specifically, this opinion was shared by Michael Carpenter, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the OSCE. "Russia's objectives towards Belarus are the same as towards Ukraine, but in Belarus' case, Russia relies on coercion rather than war," stated the American politician.