Leanid Zaika: Minsk decided to beat the Kremlin by Iranian oil

There are no strategic goals behind the purchase of Iranian oil, believes economist Leanid Zaika.

"Belorusneft" purchased 80 thousand tons of oil from the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).

It is noteworthy that Minsk has bought Iranian oil in the midst of the Russian-Belarusian oil and gas conflict.

The Belarusian authorities are looking for an alternative to Russian oil? Economist Leanid Zaika presented his ideas to the "EuroBelarus" Information Service.

- Why should we discuss such small figures? The Iranian oil plays no economic role; it is more likely Minsk was trying to work out a scheme how to get and deliver the Iranian oil to Belarus.

- Do the supplies of the Iranian oil promise no economic benefits to Belarus?

- We have been through it all both with the Azerbaijani oil and with the raw materials from Venezuela. Minsk decided to beat the Kremlin by Iranian oil. There are no strategic goals behind these supplies.

- Is it necessary to consider the purchase of Iranian oil as a purely political move Minsk made amid the oil and gas war with Russia?

 - I would not call the actions of the Belarusian authorities a political move but rather a propagandistic decision. I would present the purchase of the Iranian oil as a diversion.

- What does it distract from?

- The March of Angry Belarusians took place on February 17. People expect the government to start doing something at last, it is time to seek a way out of the crisis. Tell me: what was the first decision of the Council of Ministers in 2017? Don’t even look for it, you won’t find it. The first ruling of the Council of Ministers was dedicated to the manufacturing of garden houses. No oil, no crisis, no major macroeconomic calculations - the construction of garden houses is of the outmost importance.

- Is there a possibility to settle the Belarusian-Russian oil and gas conflict in the near future?

- The Kremlin, Putin, his analysts pay no attention to the consecution of the conflict. The parties sent two gladiators to the arena: Siamashka, Director of a factory from Minsk against the young eastern man by the name Dvarkovich. I can’t predict the outcome of this gladiatorial combat.

A big propaganda show is on.

- And on both sides.

 - The oil and gas conflict seems a theatrical performance to me, and it was staged not thanks to a good life. People need circuses! So why not the Iranian oil?