Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko ruled out bringing troops into the country this Friday, in contrast to what happened in Russia, assuring that Minsk “does not intend to participate in wars.”
“There will be no mobilization. This is a lie,” said Lukashenka, quoted this Friday by the government channel Pool One, broadcast over the Telegram digital messaging network.
Shortly thereafter, the state news agency Belta published another statement by the head of state, in which Lukashenka confirmed that Belarus “would not participate in any war.”
“We will fight only when it is necessary to protect our homes and our land,” he added.
Lukashenko said for the first time that Belarus would not directly participate in hostilities.
Belarus is one of Moscow’s closest allies in Russia’s new military campaign against Ukraine, which began on February 24.
The country served as a base for Russian troops during the invasion of Ukraine and was sharply criticized for this by the Kyiv government.
On the other hand, several Eastern European news portals report that Belarusian security forces have received verbal orders to identify Russian citizens hiding in Belarus in an attempt to avoid the “partial mobilization” announced this week by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Many Russian reservists fear inclusion in the Armed Forces and therefore try to leave the country through Russia’s borders with Finland, Georgia, Mongolia and Kazakhstan.
Belarus, a former Soviet republic bordering Russia, is also one of the alleged flight lines, not least because there are no border posts between the two countries under existing bilateral agreements.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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