Belarus’s president, Alexander Lukashenko has announced he is putting troops on high alert and closing the country’s borders with Poland and Lithuania.
President Lukashenko’s decision underlined his repeated claim that the wave of protests demanding his resignation is driven by the West. He also faces increasing criticism from the United States and the European Union.
Protests began after the disputed August 9, 2020 presidential election. Official results gave the authoritarian leader a sixth term in office but opponents say the results were manipulated.
“We are forced to withdraw troops from the streets, put the army on high alert and close the state border on the west, primarily with Lithuania and Poland,” Lukashenko said at a women’s forum.
He added that Belarus’s border with Ukraine would be strengthened.
“I don’t want my country to be at war. Moreover, I don’t want Belarus and Poland, Lithuania to turn into a theatre of military operations where our issues will not be resolved.
“Therefore, today in front of this hall of the most beautiful, advanced, patriotic people I want to appeal to the people of Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine – stop your crazy politicians, don’t let war break out!”
He did not mention neighbouring Latvia, which like Poland and Lithuania is a NATO member.
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the main opposition candidate in the disputed presidential election, obviously unfazed by Lukashenko’s threats has said activists are compiling a list of law enforcement officers who were allegedly involved in violence against protesters.
Nearly 7,000 people were detained and hundreds were brutally beaten by police during the first several days of post-election protests. She added that the list will be shared with the US, the EU and Russia.
Tikhanovskaya, who left for Lithuania in the wake of the election under pressure from Belarusian authorities, said the opposition will name the list in honour of Alexander Taraikovsky, a protester who died in Minsk the day after the election as police dispersed peaceful demonstrators.
Authorities initially said an explosive device Taraikovsky intended to throw at police blew up in his hands and killed him. However, a video by The Associated Press news agency showed he was not holding any explosives when he fell to the ground, his shirt bloodied.
The US and the EU have criticised the presidential election as neither free nor fair, and urged Lukashenko to start talks with the opposition, a call he has rejected.
Washington and Brussels have been pondering sanctions against Belarusian officials for alleged vote-rigging and the violent response to protests.
The European Parliament has overwhelmingly passed a resolution rejecting the official election results and saying it would not recognise Lukashenko as the legitimate president once his current term expires on November 5, 2020.
Belarus’s foreign ministry responded strongly expressing displeasure with the bloc’s ruling.
“We are disappointed that the European Parliament, positioning itself as a serious, objective and democratic structure, could not find the political will to look beyond its nose, overcome one-sidedness and not become a hostage to conventional clichés.”
Russia, Lukashenko’s main ally and sponsor, has maintained staunch support for the Belarusian leader by offering a new $1.5bn loan to his government.
