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Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko
Photo: Pavel Bednyakov / SNA / IMAGO
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko sees his country threatened by alleged crimes of an “extremist nature.” He is therefore ordering tighter security precautions: Armed street patrols should be used to better control crime, the president said at a meeting with representatives of the central security organs. Although the crime rate in Belarus is declining, the country is at risk from crimes of an “extremist nature”. Lukashenko called on the Interior Ministry, the secret service and the prosecutor's office, among others, to bring this under control. "Patrols must be armed with small arms, at least pistols," he demanded.
A video of Lukashenko's meeting with representatives of the security authorities was published on a state website. During the interview, Lukashenko indicated that the “extremism” he complained about was being controlled from abroad. Last week, the president said that several nationals of both countries had been arrested at the border between Ukraine and Belarus. It was an anti-terror operation against saboteurs.
Lukashenko is allied with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The invasion of Ukraine almost two years ago was also launched by Russian troops from Belarus. Meanwhile, Lukashenko has allowed Russia to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.
col/Reuters