In an unexpected divergence from the Kremlin’s official line, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim that Ukraine was behind the Moscow mass shooting, stating that the attackers initially attempted to flee to Belarus. Lukashenko’s statement, reported by the state-owned Belarusian news agency BelTA, contradicts the narrative put forth by Putin, who had alleged without evidence that the attackers planned to escape to Ukraine.
The shooting at Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, a suburb of Moscow, occurred during a concert on March 22 and resulted in the tragic loss of 143 lives. The Islamic State (ISIS) has since claimed responsibility for the attack. Despite this claim and a lack of supporting evidence for Putin’s allegations, Russian officials have persisted in suggesting Ukrainian involvement, hinting at potential complicity of the UK and the U.S.
“We placed our units on high alert to prepare for a combat situation,” Lukashenko said at a Tuesday press conference. “As a result they were unable to enter Belarus by any means. Consequently, they allegedly redirected towards the Russia-Ukraine border. The Belarusian leader’s comments reveal a significant rift with Putin’s narrative, which centered on the assailants being apprehended in the Bryansk region as they supposedly attempted to flee toward Ukraine. Putin claimed that Ukraine had prepared an escape route for the terrorists, which Lukashenko’s account now undermines.
“Overall, there’s an odd disconnect. The official line, that Ukrainians recruited jihadists, is being parroted, but often with little conviction,” Mark Galeotti, head of the consultancy Mayak Intelligence and an honorary professor at University College London, wrote on X. “Despite talk of consequences, nothing is really emerging, leaving the authorities looking rather weak.”
The FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov further complicated the narrative by suggesting a “Ukrainian trace” in the attack, despite the absence of concrete evidence. Contradicting this stance, the White House has dismissed the Kremlin’s allegations, clarifying that ISIS acted alone in the attack and pointed out that the United States had previously provided a written warning to Russian security services about a potential extremist attack.
This discord between the leaders of Russia and Belarus comes as a striking development given the close alliance between the two countries. Lukashenko’s public dismissal of Putin’s claims illustrates a surprising deviation from the typical unified front presented by the two nations. It also raises questions about the internal dynamics within the region and the reliability of the Kremlin’s statements on international matters, especially in the context of the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Relevant articles:
– Lukashenko torpedoes Putin’s attempts to blame Moscow shooting on Ukraine
– The Kremlin works to blame Ukraine, the West for Moscow attack, NBC News, Wed, 27 Mar 2024 15:49:10 GMT
– Lukashenko contradicts Putin, says Moscow terrorists were fleeing to Belarus, not Ukraine, POLITICO Europe, Tue, 26 Mar 2024 18:14:00 GMT
– Ukraine war updates: Putin says NATO won’t be attacked but F-16s will; Kyiv claims Russia knew terror attack was coming, CNBC, Thu, 28 Mar 2024 16:57:00 GMT