"Confirmation of interference": the Russian Foreign Ministry commented on Lithuania's intention to impose sanctions against Lukashenka

The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry has prepared a list of persons who are proposed to be banned from entering the Baltic republic in connection with the situation in Belarus after the presidential elections.

The list has been sent for approval to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Lithuania. As noted by the country's foreign minister, Linas Linkevičius, the current president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, was also included in the list.

“This list, which I will not name by name, contains 32 people, including Alexander Lukashenko,” Linkevicius said.

According to him, there are also officials from the OMON, the KGB and the Election Commission of Belarus. The politician stressed that the final decision on the document will be made by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Lithuania.

This step of the Lithuanian authorities was commented on by the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova. She noted that the decision of Vilnius is a direct proof of the interference of Western countries in the internal affairs of Belarus.

"Bravo! And Minsk receives a reinforced concrete argument confirming the participation of the West in interfering in the internal affairs of Belarus, "Zakharova wrote on Facebook.

Earlier, EU officials said that the union does not recognize the results of the presidential elections held in Belarus. Along with this, the EU announced its intentions to impose sanctions against "a significant number of those responsible for the violence in the republic and electoral fraud."

The head of the European Council Charles Michel indicated that the restrictions may affect the Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.

At the same time, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Belarus should solve the problems that have arisen through dialogue within the country, and there should be no outside interference.

Let's remind that the presidential elections in the republic were held on August 9. According to the final data of the CEC, the current head of state Alexander Lukashenko won 80.1% of the vote. Of his opponents, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya received the greatest support - 10.12%.

However, already on August 9, after the publication of the preliminary election results, large-scale protests began in Belarus, which continue to this day with varying intensity. Demonstrators who disagree with the election results demand Lukashenka's resignation from the post of head of state.

Against this backdrop, opposition representatives have formed a coordinating council, which calls for "new elections according to international standards with a new composition of all commissions." The elections held on August 9 are proposed to be declared invalid.

At the same time, the opposition association indicates that it does not set itself the goal of changing the constitutional and foreign policy system in the republic, but is looking for ways to “overcome the political crisis in the Republic of Belarus and ensure harmony in society on the basis of the constitution”.

Belarus strengthens protection of western borders

Earlier, the President of Belarus instructed the Ministry of Defense of the republic to monitor the movement of NATO troops in Poland and Lithuania and "not be shy" to withdraw the armed forces and equipment to the directions of their movement. The head of state made the corresponding order following the meeting of the Security Council of the republic.

“We have to track the direction of their movement and their intentions. But at the moment we see all these plans. This does not bother us especially, but some facts, especially in the Grodno direction, make us think. Therefore, we must definitely take measures and not hesitate to withdraw our armed forces and equipment to the directions of their movement, ”BelTA quotes Lukashenka.

He called to control these issues, especially in the Grodno direction.

“Because there is a great desire to destabilize the situation there. Even more than in Minsk, ”Lukashenka added.

A few days earlier, Lukashenka announced about NATO troops building up their military might on the republic’s borders.

“Look around: tanks, planes taking off 15 minutes from our borders. And it's not in vain! NATO troops clang their tracks at our gates. There is a build-up of military power along the western borders, ”Lukashenka said during his speech at a rally in the center of Minsk.

On the evening of August 19, it became known that the head of the Belarusian Defense Ministry Viktor Khrenin ordered to strengthen the grouping of troops in the Grodno direction with divisions of tactical missiles and multiple launch rocket systems, as well as a detachment of unmanned aerial vehicles and air defense systems.

In particular, the Western operational command has been instructed to reinforce the Tochka missile battalion, the Polonez battalion, a detachment of unmanned aerial systems, air defense systems, electronic reconnaissance and electronic warfare.