Belarus: Putin’s announcement triggers stir, preparations to send force
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he has formed a Police Reserve Force in Belarus to intervene when needed. However, according to him, there has not been a chance to send this force yet.
On Russian state TV, he said that Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko “asked me to make a certain police reserve” and “I have made that.”
On Rasha-1 TV, he said, “We have also agreed that we will not use this force until the situation is out of control.”
President Lukashenko is facing massive opposition from the people on the controversial elections of 9 August.
Apart from this, at least 13 journalists, including the BBC team, were detained in the capital Minsk before a protest demonstration.
The Home Ministry said that he was taken to a police station to investigate his identity. But the BBC’s Steve Rosenberg says that “it was a clear attempt to interfere with the coverage”.
“Things are getting worse”
President Putin said that because of an agreement between the two countries, it is their duty to help Belarus in the matter of defense. He also emphasized that there are deep cultural, ethnic and linguistic relations between the two countries.
He said the new reserve force would not move to Belarus until “extremist elements crossed a certain threshold using political slogans and armed robbery, cars, houses, banks to fire, government buildings to try to seize.” Like they don’t work. “
Also “He said that although seen, things are getting worse now.”
Poland’s Prime Minister Matyush Morawiकीski said that President Putin is considering restoring control in Belarus to hide adverse violations of international law.
They say that this plan should be withdrawn immediately.
Russia and Belarus are members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. Many post-Soviet countries are involved in this organization.
The two countries formed a union in 1996, which encouraged greater integration between the two and guaranteed citizens the right to live and work independently in both countries.
What is behind Putin’s plan?
Alexander Lukashenko claimed some time ago that if the situation worsens, Russia will come with the Force to help him.
President Putin has given a direct seal to this claim of Lukashenko, and because of this, clouds of danger are now falling on Belarus.
President Putin has not given any clear reaction on what that force will be like. However, by “Law Enforcement Officer”, he does not mean the general police. Rather it will include anti-riot police, National Guard (Rosgardia) and even FSB.
So the possible interference of Russia is a bell of danger for opposition leaders and demonstrators as well as for the West.
Because Vladimir Putin mentions the special relationship between Minsk and Moscow – in which he talks about ethnic bonds, family relationships and economic relations.
He said that Russia has been making a difference in the past as to what is happening beyond its border. Putin also talked about the concerns to the protesters and said that if there would be no problem, his force would not take to the streets.
According to Sarah Rainsford, but in a way he has supported Alexander Lukashenko by making this statement and Russia has come to his rescue.
European Union will impose ban
The European Union and the US rejected Belarus’s August 9 vote, saying they were neither free nor fair.
The European Union is preparing to impose sanctions against officials who are accused of manipulating the results and taking action against the opposition movement to win Lukashenko.
Never before have such large demonstrations taken place in Belarus. Lukashenko has won the President’s chair for the sixth time with 80% of the vote. He has already been President for 26 years.
A criminal case has been filed against the opposition Co-ordination Council, which accuses Lukashenko of trying to seize power.
Prosecutors are questioning the biggest opposition leader in Belarus, Mariya Kalyasnikova. On arriving at the blinding of the inquiry committee based in Minsk, he appealed to the supporters not to lose courage, for which he was well appreciated.
Prosecutors questioned Nobel Literature Prize-winner Svetlana Alexievich on Wednesday. Svetlana Alexievich told reporters that she refused to answer his questions, and said that the council had done everything within the ambit of the law.
The council was launched by Svetlana Tikhanovsna, the main opposition candidate for the presidency, who has now moved to neighboring Lithuania.
