[a-nikolaev]

My guess us that for the Russian citizens, Putin wants to show that: 1) Lukashenko is the good guy fighting terrorists, 2) EU politicians have mistreated Belavia Belarusian airlines, so Russia had to step in and defend their allies, 3) generally trying to show that he is more powerful than EU politicians.

In terms of actual long-term goals, I think, he aims to replace Lukashenko with a new pro-Russia president, so he tries to keep Lukashenko happy in the process (also making him more dependent on Russia internationally), and proving that the two countries are still best allies...

[jacksonkmarley]

Something I have zero clue about, do everyday Russians see Belarus as an ally and Lukashenko as a good guy?

[gbuk2013]

Yes to the first, no to the second.

Lukashenko is generally derided for “sitting on two chairs” playing Europe against Russia (while acknowledging his impressive ability to do so for so many years). He also carried the country through the post-Soviet trouble period much better than most other former republics, for which he gets some respect.

Note that he has firmly purged the government of pro-Russian politicians over the years so there are no illusions about his friendship.

[yurish]

Can confirm this.

[vbezhenar]

Russians are different. For many Lukashenko's Belarus was their soviet dream, carefully conserved and preserved. For many Lukashenko is dictator along with Putin. Some Russians don't even understand why Belarus is not in the Russia and will welcome every move to unite those countries.

I don't think that there's a singular view to Belarus.

[fsloth]

There has been lots of hypothetical talk about potential re-merging of Russia and Belarus into a single polity (they were practically single state during Soviet Union).

[sam_lowry_]

80% of Russians see Lukashenka as a bad guy and a slightly more overt version on Putin.