Russia’s interests in Belarus at this stage may be categorized as status quo–oriented interests and those going beyond the status quo; the latter category clearly prevails in the political, institutional, and economic spheres, as well as – with wide-ranging potential repercussions – in the military realm. To change the situation in the military realm in its favor, Russia looks set to exploit Belarus’s international isolation in the wake of the August 2020 rigged presidential election and ensuing protests.

Read more here.