- Belarus. Lukashenko warns the opposition: beware of Moscow's reaction
- Belarus, demonstrators around the headquarters of the state TV
- Belarus, thousands of opponents on the streets in Minsk. Lukashenko: the vote will not be repeated
- Belarus, crowd in Minsk for the protester's funeral. Lukashenko rejects foreign mediation
Share
August 18, 2020 - Belarusian leader Aleksandr Lukashenko said Minsk has deployed armed units to its western borders in response to foreign governments' statements about the situation inside the country. In a televised meeting, Lukashenko said that "the units are on full alert and ready to fulfill their obligations". The Ministry of Defense of Minsk has made it known that patrols of the national borders with military fighters in a state of alert have begun.Meanwhile, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, rejects the sender's requests from Chancellor Merkel and President Macron to stop the violence in Belarus against opposition protesters. Moscow judges them "unacceptable interference".
Third call Putin - Lukashenko
Third phone call in four days between the Belarusian president, Aleksandr Lukashenko, and his Russian colleague Vladimir Putin who today reported to him the contents of his conversations on the situation in the former Soviet republic, which he had in these hours with Chancellor Angela Merkel, and the French president , Emmanuel Macron. The Ria Novosti agency reports it.
Macron to Putin: "Encouraging dialogue"
French President Emmanuel Macron asked his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to "promote peace and dialogue" in Belarus, during a telephone conversation between the two leaders on the eve of the extraordinary EU summit, he reports the Elysee Palace. Macron underlined the "constructive role" that the EU can assume "so that violence against the population ceases immediately and that a political solution can emerge as soon as possible in compliance with the aspirations expressed peacefully and en masse for several days", the presidency specified French.
Merkel: "Avoid violence on peaceful demonstrators"
According to German government spokesman Steffen Seibert in a statement, this morning in a phone call between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin the topic of the presidential elections in Belarus was addressed of 9 August. The Chancellor stressed "that the Belarusian government must commit itself to avoiding violence against peaceful protesters, immediately release political prisoners and start a dialogue with the opposition and society to overcome the crisis".
Lukashenko: "It's a coup attempt"
The Belarusian president denounced the opposition for having created a coordination council to "calm" the security forces and seize power. "The new element is the attempt to calm the authorities, especially the police: they say 'we are peaceful, we are good, we do not want a fight'. That's not true. It's a smokescreen. If you look behind it. you will see what is happening. They ask us to hand over power to them. It is an attempt to seize power with all its consequences, "he said speaking to the Security Council and recalling that the authorities" will take the appropriate measures, in full respect of the Constitution and the law "to" calm some hotheads ".
Opposition: "Yes to constructive dialogue with Moscow"
Should the Belarusian opposition rise to power, it does not intend to abandon existing international agreements with partner countries, including Russia. This was assured by Maria Kolesnikova, a member of the opposition coordination council and one of the leaders of the street movement that has been contesting the re-election of Belarusian president Aleksandr Lukashenko for days. Kolesnikova tightly responded to the accusations of the head of state who portrayed the opposition as anti-Russian and pro-NATO: "We are constructively disposed towards all external partners of the Republic of Belarus. We believe that all existing agreements must be respected. For our part, we confirm our desire and our willingness to build mutually beneficial relations with all partner countries, obviously including the Russian Federation ".
Trump: "At the right time I will speak with Moscow"
Washington at the right time "will start a dialogue with Moscow" on what is happening in Belarus. This was stated by US President Donald Trump, quoted by Interfax. "We are talking to many people and at the appropriate time we will talk to Russia," the president told the White House.
Catholic Church calls for the release of detainees
The metropolitan archbishop of Minsk-Mogilev, mgr. Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz: "The prisoners - he says - need humanitarian and medical help, but also spiritual help. Unfortunately up to now priests have not been allowed to enter the prisons. We know who came out of prison of extremely serious conditions in where they have been. Some have even needed a doctor. But what we ask is to be able to offer them spiritual assistance. " The president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Belarus also asks the Minister of Internal Affairs for the immediate release of all detainees.
Lithuania Parliament approves sanctions against Minsk
Finally, the Lithuanian parliament approved the economic sanctions against neighboring Belarus and affirmed that the presidential elections that confirmed Lukashenko as president must not be recognized internationally. "Today we are sending a strong message to the world," Lithuanian foreign minister Linas Linkevicius said after parliamentarians approved the sanctions with 120 votes in favor, 0 against and two abstentions. Nineteen of the 141 members of parliament were absent. Lawmakers also called for the international community not to recognize the legitimacy of the elections.