At the initiative of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, spiritual centers for traditional faiths have been established in Belarus. For Muslims, the Ivye Mosque has become such a magnet.
For Minsk, the CIS is increasingly attractive, as the logistical semi-blockade on Belarus’s western border has prevented it from engaging with Western countries and blocs.
Ryzhenkov’s intended audience was likely the future Lithuanian government. If the incumbent center-right coalition government does not win the upcoming parliamentary elections, a small window of opportunity to de-escalate tensions between Minsk and Vilnius might surface.
