Belarus: Putin calls for dialogue while confirming the existence of armed reinforcements

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (d) receives Russian President Vladimir Putin for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit in Minsk, October 10, 2014. AFP PHOTO / MAXIM MALINOVSKY

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The Secretary General of NATO calls on Russia not to “interfere” with its Belarusian neighbor. In an interview with the German press, Jens Stoltenberg recalled that Belarus was a sovereign and independent state. While that same day, the Russian president confirms that armed reinforcements are ready to intervene while calling on authorities and opposition in Minsk to dialogue and reason.

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According to Vladimir Putin, the situation is improving in Belarus, and Russian intervention is not necessary. On August 27, he called on all Belarusian actors to use common sense to find a way out of the crisis. But the Kremlin strongman warns that in case of need he is ready. In an interview with the public broadcaster Rossiya-24 , he confirms that he responded positively to the Belarusian president when the latter asked him for help.

Alexander Gregoryevich [ Lukashenko] asked me to constitute a certain reserve of police officers and I did so ," he said. But we agreed that it would not be used unless the situation gets out of control and the extremist elements (...) cross certain barriers : that they set fire to cars, houses, banks, try to seize administrative buildings  ”.

New mobilizations and warning

Alexander Lukashenko had announced in mid-August that he had obtained this aid but the Kremlin had not confirmed. This update, or warning, comes on the eve of the weekend and a new Sunday of mobilization in the streets of the capital.

Last Sunday 100,000 people marched in Minsk peacefully. Acts of mobilization and repression continued today. Demonstrations took place in front of the heart center whose director was fired, and in front of the red church where many journalists were arrested in the late afternoon.

► To read also: Belarus: Russia wonders about the support to be given to a weakened Lukashenko

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