Belarus announced on Wednesday July 29 the arrest of 32 Russian "fighters" from the private military group Wagner, known to be close to the Kremlin, who had come to "destabilize" the country in the run-up to the August 9 presidential election.
The Belarusian premier channel, state media, and the official agency Belta announced the arrests, which were ordered after the authorities learned of "the arrival on the territory of 200 fighters expected to destabilize the situation during the election campaign" .
"That night Belarusian security forces arrested 32 fighters from the private military group Wagner. In addition, another man was found and arrested in the south of the country," said Belta agency, which published the list. and the civil status of those arrested, all men between the ages of 24 and 55.
Belarusian television broadcast images from video surveillance cameras of their grouped arrival at a hotel near the capital, Minsk, followed by their arrest. In particular, bundles of dollar bills, Russian passports, and military equipment instruction manuals are displayed.
Belarus is holding a presidential election on August 9, the campaign of which has been marked by violent repression and several arrests targeting election candidates or opposition protesters.
Authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, in power since 1994, and candidate for a sixth consecutive term, accused Moscow of supporting its critics, which the Kremlin denies.
Relations between Russia and Belarus are traditionally cordial, but marked by regular moments of tension linked to energy disputes.
In recent months, Alexander Lukashenko has, however, increased the number of statements denouncing Russian pressure, accusing Moscow in particular of wanting to turn his country into a vassal and of seeking to manipulate the presidential election.
With AFP
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