Russia proceeds from the assumption that the situation in Belarus will be resolved peacefully, Vladimir Putin said in an interview on the Russia 1 TV channel.

“We proceed from the assumption that all the existing problems that are taking place in Belarus today will be resolved peacefully, and if there are violations somewhere on the part of anyone: either from state authorities, law enforcement agencies, or from the parties of those who take part in the protest action, if they go beyond the framework of the current law, then the law will react accordingly, "the head of state said.

Putin added that, in his opinion, Russia is behaving "much more restrained and neutral in relation to the events in Belarus than many other countries, European and American."

Speaking about the actions of the Belarusian law enforcement agencies, Putin noted that they "behave quite restrained."

“In general, the situation is now leveling off, and I hope that all the problems, and they certainly exist, otherwise people would not go out on the street, this is an absolutely obvious thing that they will be resolved within the framework of the constitutional field, within the framework of the law and peacefully means, ”he added.

As the Russian leader emphasized, Russia is not indifferent to what is happening in Belarus.

“This is a very close, perhaps, the closest country to us. And ethnically the closest, both linguistically, and culturally, spiritually, whatever. We have tens, maybe hundreds of thousands, if not millions of direct family ties, the closest cooperation in industry, "Putin said.

He said that, at the request of his Belarusian colleague Alexander Lukashenko, he formed a reserve of law enforcement officers to help the republic if necessary.

  • Putin announced the creation of a reserve of security officials to help Belarus

At the same time, Putin noted that Russian forces can be used in Belarus only as a last resort.

“But we also agreed that it will not be used until the situation gets out of control, and when the extremist, I want to emphasize this, the elements, hiding behind political slogans, will not cross certain boundaries and will not simply start robbery: They will not start setting fire to cars, houses, banks, trying to seize administrative buildings and so on, ”Putin said.

Earlier, the Kremlin also spoke about the likelihood of Russian assistance to the Belarusian leadership. On August 21, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow is ready to help in resolving the situation in Belarus, if Minsk wants it.

Let us remind you that in early August presidential elections were held in Belarus. The incumbent head of state Alexander Lukashenko received the support of 80.1% of voters. His closest opponent Svetlana Tikhanovskaya - 10.1%.

After the publication of the preliminary results of the elections, large-scale protests began in the republic, which escalated into riots. Participants of these rallies demand Lukashenka's resignation from the post of head of state and new elections.

Protest activity has been declining in recent days. Speaking about the number of participants in the rallies on August 25, the Ministry of Internal Affairs named a figure of 4.8 thousand people throughout the country. On August 26, according to the ministry, about 2 thousand people took part in uncoordinated actions.

According to the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, a hybrid war is currently being waged against the republic.

“Today we have a certain stage of a hybrid, let's face it, war against Belarus. How else to call it? The media and the information sphere are amazed by this struggle, the war of the opposing sides, ”BelTA quotes him.

Lukashenko also noted that a "diplomatic carnage" began against Belarus at the highest level. According to him, the republic's "unsettled neighbors" openly declare their position on repeat elections and begin to interfere in the country's internal affairs.

The President of Belarus added that the republic is forced to spend money to stabilize the situation on the western borders of the country.

“You see these statements that if Belarus disintegrates, the Grodno region will go to Poland. They already openly talk about it, sleep and see. They will not succeed in this regard, I know this for sure, ”Lukashenka summed up.