Belarus mindful of militants trained by Poland, Lithuania

MINSK, 27 June (BelTA) – Belarus does not brush aside the potential threat that militants, who are being trained in Lithuania, Poland, and other unfriendly countries, represent. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the relevant statement after the ceremony held on 27 June to present shoulder boards to high-ranking officers. Representatives of mass media and political analysts took part in the ceremony, BelTA has learned.

The leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus (LDPB) Oleg Gaidukevich asked Aleksandr Lukashenko about militants being trained in Poland, Lithuania, and other countries for destructive activities against Belarus. In his words, considerable funds are spent on it and these militants will have to commit concrete actions in order to justify the expenses. The president was asked how Belarus responds to this kind of threats.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “We are getting ready for it as much as possible. You understand that it is impossible to sift everything. It is very big, heavy, and costly work. But it is the key matter for us, for special services. Well, they may blabber about things one day while everyone sees that it is nothing but lies the next day. But we cannot brush it aside over here.”

He remarked that quite a large number of these militants had been killed in Ukraine, including during clashes with the private military company Wagner. “They tell each other about it. They call and say it is impossible to raise head,” he mentioned.

“Quite a lot of them have died. They don't want to fight. They can see and their relatives tell them, their parents tell them about Belarus and how people live here,” Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked. He pointed out that Belarus has not closed the border. The country is still open to citizens of other countries, including Ukrainians. About 30,000 Ukrainians have come to Belarus recently.

“We don't restrict their travels. They are surprised. Half a million Lithuanians, Poles, Germans. Why do they come to us?” Aleksandr Lukashenko wondered. He stressed that in many situations Belarus happens to be in a more advantageous position that its opponents. For instance, during the resolution of the crisis with migrants at the border.