Russian businessman: "Russia and Belarus are de facto already one country, just the logos are different." And calls those who disagree "pots"
Russian Oleg Konovalenko writes a lot on Threads about business — he has a large company for installing PVC windows and a game development studio. Recently, the man decided to share his thoughts on the relationship between Russia and Belarus, but found no understanding.
Photo: olegolkon / Instagram
Oleg Konovalenko is the founder of the large company "Olkon" in Russia, which manufactures, sells, and installs plastic windows and has branches in various cities. A few years ago, Konovalenko launched his own video game development studio, Olkon Games.
On April 3, Oleg published a post about the relations between Russia and Belarus:
«Let's admit it: Russia and Belarus are de facto already one country, just the logos (flags) are different. We have integrated very deeply. I was there last year, so I know what I'm talking about. And yes, the integration continues.»
The businessman's post predictably gathered many dissatisfied comments — now there are over 300 comments under Konovalenko's publication:
«The holiday is the Day of Unity of Peoples, not the unification of countries. We have our own culture and I ask not to demean it.»
«Don't mistake your desires for reality.»
«Through which VPN did you log in to write this?».
But that wasn't all, as Oleg decided to respond to the commentators. It didn't turn out very nicely:
«30 bots got stuck. Some live in Toronto or Europe. 30 people is 0.001% of Belarus's population.
As always: the "pots" disgracefully fled their country and yap from Europe at any posts about Russia. I wonder, when they are expelled, where will they run?»
Konovalenko himself also mocked the Ukrainian language in the comments. Ukrainians wrote to him that «now Belarusians will quickly give him a good thrashing» (literally "stuff his hat"), while the word «зараз» (now) sounds the same in Ukrainian as in Belarusian.
And Konovalenko replied:
«Let the bots write what they want, absolutely don't give a f***. I'll stuff *them* myself. What is 'зараз'? Which 'зараз' (now)?»
Another commentator wrote to Oleg that if he considers himself a brother to Belarusians, he should understand the Belarusian language. The businessman disagreed — he said he was in Minsk, and everyone there speaks Russian. He was told in Belarusian that he simply couldn't physically hear all Belarusians — this is what he replied:
«No understand. Speak Russian.»
In 2025, Konovalenko spoke out regarding Russians who choose emigration:
«Having traveled a bit around Europe and visited the USA, I am sincerely surprised by people who today dream of going there to live. I understand in the 90s. Yes, then Russia was a backward and unpromising place. But today?
Opportunities — a sea of them, service — the best in the world, people — responsive. Your own culture, language, relatives — that's a bonus. Travel! That's it, but there's no point in emigrating.»