Lukashenko honoured with top Russian award amidst united front
On Wednesday, Aleksandr Lukashenko received the highest Russian state decoration, the Order of St. Andrew, from Vladimir Putin, awarded for contributions to the Russian Federation. Lukashenko stated that the Belarusian nation "consistently strengthens unity with brotherly Russia."
The independent Belarusian portal Zerkalo.io reported the award, citing official media in Minsk. The order's motto reads: "for faith and fidelity." According to the portal Nasha Niva, Lukashenko kissed the order.
Previously, Belarusian state media announced that Lukashenko and Putin would hold talks in Moscow to discuss "issues of further development of relations" between the two states, focusing on "integrative cooperation within the framework of the Union State" of Belarus and Russia.
On Wednesday, Nasha Niva recalled the history of this prestigious state decoration, which was reinstated in modern Russia in 1998, modelled after the one from the Russian Empire. The decoration holds deep symbolic meaning: those awarded by Russia were the most faithful and useful servants who distinguished themselves in incorporating Belarus into the orbit of the empire, the portal points out.
Much of the information provided by Russian media or government representatives is propaganda. Such reports are part of the Russian Federation's information war.
