Talk about Separatism in Smolensk Apparently Worrying Some in Moscow

Paul Goble

            Staunton, Oct. 17 – One of the 34 new countries the Forum of the Peoples of Free Russia see emerging is Smolend or Smolandia, the names activist give to an independent republic based on Smolensk oblast or to its transitional form before becoming part of a Belarus expanded at Russia’s expense.

            These ideas are not as far-fetched as they might seem. Lukashenka has talked about absorbing an area that once was part of his republic, and some residents in Smolensk have sought referenda on leaving Russia (windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2014/10/window-on-eurasia-smolensk-and-bryansk.html, windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2013/10/window-on-eurasia-minsk-forming-its-own.html, windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2016/11/professional-belarusians-in-smolensk.html, windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2014/04/window-on-eurasia-smolensk-residents.html and windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2019/01/residents-of-village-moscow-transferred.html).

            In the past, most Russian commentators have dismissed such aspirations out of hand, as completely absurd and something that they don’t need even to take note of. But a new discussion, triggered by the Forum’s references to Smolandia, while equally critical suggests some in the Russian capital may actually be concerned.

            In a commentary for the Politnavigator portal, Russian writer Artyom Agafonov says that he can understand although not really justify separatism in non-Russian areas of the country. There is an ideological basis for that, however mistaken and however little support it may have (politnavigator.net/prodvigat-separatizm-v-smolenske-poruchili-belorusskim-zmagaram.html).

            But there really can’t be any for lands which have been Russian “from time immemorial” especially if they have well-deserved reputations for “strong patriotic attitudes” such as Smolensk. Talk about separatism there is thus to engage in fantastic constructions of chimerical things “which have nothing in common with reality.”

            According to Agafonov, Smolensk separatism is being pushed by the pro-Western opposition in Belarus, a group that he says is also eying “the north of Bryansk, the south of Pskov and the west of Tver oblasts.” Such Belarusians view these places as future protectorates of Belarus.

            He says that the Belarusian opposition even outlines a scenario for how this will come about. Belarus will fight Ukraine alongside Russia. It and Russia will lose. Ukraine will occupy Belarus and install a new pro-Western government. And that government will seek to carve up the corpse of defeated Russia.

            Agafonov says that such ideas are ridiculous and only show that “the Belarusian Nazis have been instructed to deal with the Smalandia project” as part of the campaign by Ukraine and the West to weaken Russia. But it is a campaign that will fail because there are few “home-grown separatists” in Smolensk itself.

            He says that portals and Twitter accounts pushing the idea have few subscribers and “something tells me that the vast majority of them do not live in the Smolensk Oblast.” But Afagonov’s discussion of them may very well attract even more attention to such outlets. (Among them is mobile.twitter.com/smalandija.)