FL: "Although there were attempts at diversifying the Belarusian economy - with China and Venezuela - all of them failed". Not quite. The Venezuelan crude oil keeps arriving for Belarus through Lithuania, Estonia and Odessa. The Belarusian refineries are still busy. Developing a potash business with China ( as the Belaruskali stake's successful bidder) is a business partnership, not a "couple of billion dollars gift given easily to friendly Belarusian people". FL: "And now,when Lukashenko actually showed that he won't recognise the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, he cannot turn it into profit". Why not? Contracts worth of billions between Belarus and the EU have been secured because... Russia didn't want to share the financial and business consequences of such recognition. While Russia with its "on" and "off" bans caused the Belarus's economy to suffer slightly, the EU partners never did. In autumn of 2008 Belarus was the only friend supporting Russia when the West and Europe were against Russia's "aggression". Having received no Russian assurances in the likelihood of 'offending' its business partners from the West, Belarus hasn't done badly at all. It's too late now to demand the recognition. FL:"It is sad and serious conflict". It is, but there is a chance to avoid future offences after the elections (without the article's dragging the Belarusian partizans). However, it will go against the author's logic - " if you decide to have a decent relationship with a neighbour who's less wealthy, you must pay - in other words, this union must have been invested in to in order to remain strong". Does Russia really know what kind of union Belarus will offer and who isn't going to be another 'disappointment'? The opposition candidates are gathering their supporters' signatures in Minsk right now, wouldn't be wise to get acquainted first?