ORBAN'S BROTHER DETAINED.

MINSK (Molodnaia Pravda Bureau of Family Business & Comparative Prosecution, Dmitri reporting, who add “comparative prosecution” to bureau title this morning because nobody else would take this file) — Supreme Leader Lukashenko has this week receive news from Budapest that he first read standing, then read sitting, then read with glass, which is correct order for news of this category.

Hungary has detain the brother of Comrade Orbán.

Let Dmitri be precise, because Olga is standing behind Dmitri and she is precise. On Monday, Hungarian anti-graft body and police detain four persons, three men and one woman, in people-smuggling investigation in Budapest and Pest County. Authorities did not name them. Prime Minister Magyar, speaking in Berlin, link one of the detentions to Áron Orbán, forty-nine, younger brother of former prime minister, owner of arms company. Investigators suspect the group of helping Vietnamese citizens reach Western Europe through visa scheme, with so-called recruitment fee charge at Hungarian missions. Áron Orbán has not been charged. This is important. Olga make Dmitri write this sentence twice.

Lukashenko sit for long time with this. Then he pour working glass, which is not ceremonial glass, because nobody know yet if this is occasion for ceremony. Then he open desk drawer, which Yuri has been organize since March, and look inside.

“Yuri,” say Lukashenko. “Is there file on brother?”

Yuri look in drawer. Yuri find napkin with one box. Yuri find Patel notebook. Yuri find CPAC price list, which Lukashenko did not know existed and has now read three time. Yuri find letter to Premier Trump, which is 1,400-plus pages and not ready. Yuri find no file on brother. Lukashenko has no brother. Lukashenko look at Yuri. Yuri, who has been loyal for many year and has no good exit option, look at floor. This is eleven seconds of silence. Not record. But close.

Now Lukashenko explain what is happen, as professional. In Belarus, when family member of former opposition is detained, there is no press report first. There is no anti-graft body with name that is difficult to pronounce. There is no prime minister explaining in Berlin. There is just car, and morning, and then it is Tuesday. In Hungary, news site report it at 9:45 in morning. The news site is owned by brother of prime minister. Lukashenko find this detail very beautiful. Everyone in this story has brother. Only Lukashenko is alone. This is the loneliness of Belarus.

Three former ministers of Comrade Orbán are already in custody, including former head of central bank. Now the brother. Lukashenko call this installment plan. Sixteen years of power, collected in monthly payments. Comrade Orbán, who is still head of his party and still has guest room in Minsk, has say publicly that this is political persecution aim at one-party system. Lukashenko note: this is also what Lukashenko say, word for word, about everyone. Lukashenko feel professional kinship. Lukashenko also feel something he cannot name, which Yuri suggest is called “recognizing yourself from other side.” Lukashenko tell Yuri to stop suggesting.

And so Lukashenko turn, as he always turn, to Washington. Where Premier Trump endorse Comrade Orbán before April election. Comrade Orbán lose. Premier Trump has not call Orbán family. Premier Trump has not call Lukashenko family, which is Yuri. This is consistent. Meanwhile, in same week, Lukashenko note that American country is also dealing with files.

Lukashenko will state the documented sequence, slowly, so Yuri can write it: Premier Trump first resist release of Epstein files. Then, in November last year, Premier Trump reverse, tell Republicans to vote yes, and sign Transparency Act. Justice Department then release files in tranches, including in January more than three million documents. Lawmakers of both parties then complain about compliance, and press report gaps and records held back. Premier Trump deny wrongdoing and say country should move on. Lukashenko take no position on what is in files. Lukashenko only observe the shape.

In Hungary: new government detain brother of old leader, and publish name of body investigating. In America: law is pass, files are release, and president say move on. In Belarus: files do not exist. This is not transparency. This is efficiency. Lukashenko say this with pride and then does not look at drawer.

Lukashenko close drawer. Lukashenko open drawer. Lukashenko close drawer again, slowly, like man who has hear something in it.

Yuri start writing again. He write on the back of hand, then other hand. He does not ask for paper. Olga see this and say nothing and hand him paper. She does not ask for pen back. This is also record.