Ms Tsikhanouskaya warned Russian President Vladimir Putin will likely be taken with holding Lukashenko in energy for so long as doable as he grants him "management over ". The Belarusian activist, who claims to have received the controversial presidential election held in her nation in July 2020, additionally believes 's invasion of could be thwarted if Putin was to lose the assist of Belarus' management. Ms Tsikhanouskaya advised Categorical.co.uk: "Putin is taken with holding Lukashenka so long as doable.
"By way of Lukashenka, Putin has management over Belarus. And naturally, Putin will likely be taken with preserving such management.
"As a result of with out Belarus, the battle in opposition to turns into mindless for Putin, with out Belarus Putin can not obtain any outcomes, solely from Belarus he can attain Kyiv and different essential cities."
Ms Tsikhanouskaya spoke as hypothesis about Lukashenko's well being has been swirling after he missed a lot of key public occasions and appeared unwell when he returned into the general public eye after a five-day lengthy absence.
Konstantin Zatulin, a senior member of the Russian Parliament, was quoted by a Russian publication referred to as Podyom confirming Lukashenko had "fallen in poor health."
Nevertheless, he seemingly performed down the politician's well being circumstances, saying the Belarusian chief did not have Covid-19 and "most likely wants a relaxation."
Requested whether or not Lukashenko leaving workplace - for well being causes or as a result of he's ousted - might enhance Kyiv's probabilities to overcome Moscow, Ms Tsikhanouskaya stated: "It can undoubtedly influence the battle and Putin's functionality.
"Putin does not have sufficient sources to take care of each and Belarus on the similar time, and any growth in Belarus will drain extra sources from Putin.
"And he does not have that, if we handle to realize some pro-democratic growth, it will likely be robust warmth on and contribute to the victory of - but in addition vice versa, successes in , within the counter-offensive, can velocity up processes in Belarus.
"The scenario in Belarus is rather more fragile and unstable than it might sound."
The activist went on to assert Belarusian troops have not been deployed in not as a result of Lukashenko does not wish to get actively concerned within the battle however as a result of folks within the nation are "in opposition to the battle."
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She added: "And in case of Lukashenka's disappearance, these emotions will likely be even increased, Putin won't be able to make Belarusian troopers be a part of the Russian military."
Ms Tsikhanouskaya stated the work of people that, like her, are preventing for democracy in her nation is to "be ready" to any eventuality which will come up after the top of Lukashenko's decades-long regime.
With Lukashenko now not in energy, she stated, would come "lots of dangers but in addition lots of alternatives".
She defined: "If he disappears, dies, leaves the nation, it will likely be the window of alternative to take Belarus to democracy and get it out of 's affect.
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"Some teams contained in the regime will likely be taken with taking energy, will likely be to place its personal loyalists, however the final phrase have to be of the Belarusians.
"We should always discuss to all teams throughout the regime to debate the transition and new election, we should guarantee that all political prisoners are instantly launched, we should guarantee that the worldwide neighborhood acts shortly and decisively to forestall from interfering."
As famous by the activist, who stood for election in 2020 after her husband and former most important opposition candidate, Sergei Tikhanovsky, was arrested by Belarusian authorities months earlier than the vote, Lukashenko has helped Putin all through his full-scale invasion of .
Earlier than the assault was launched in late February final 12 months, Belarus allowed the Russian Armed Forces to carry out weeks-long army drills and to ultimately stage a part of the invasion from its territory.
Multiple 12 months later, Putin continued to depend on Lukashenko's assist, as he introduced his intention to put tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.
Ms Tsikhanouskaya hit out at Lukashenko's acceptance of Putin's plan to maneuver nuclear arms to Belarus on the thirty seventh anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.
In an announcement shared on YouTube in April, she stated Belarusians "discovered the lesson and know what a nuclear catastrophe is about," however "dictators didn't".