Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he was requested by embattled Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to set up a Russian law enforcement “reserve force” to be sent to Belarus if needed.
Speaking in an interview with Russian state television, Putin said that he had spoken with Lukashenko, and assured his close ally that Russia “would fulfill all its obligations” in assisting with the curbing of chaos. However, he said that the leaders had also agreed that the force will not be used unless absolutely necessary.
Listing the circumstances which could prompt intervention, Putin said: “We have agreed not to use it until the situation starts spinning out of control and extremist elements acting under the cover of political slogans cross certain borders and engage in banditry and start burning cars, houses and banks or take over administrative buildings.” He added that he currently sees no reason step in, and hoped that it wouldn’t come down to such a situation.
Lukashenko’s disputed August 9 election has triggered massive nationwide protests, with his citizenry growing angrier day by day at his inefficiency in handling the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis. Demonstrators are also protesting against gross human rights violations carried out by his administration. Since the beginning of the demonstrations, authorities have arrested more than 6,000 people—including many journalists—and at least two have been killed in the violent aftermath of the vote that extended Lukashenko’s 26-year rule, which the EU has criticized as neither free nor fair.
In an uncharacteristic move, Putin also admitted that there were problems in Belarus, and if the people were taking to the streets, there was bound to be something wrong. “The parties to this process have enough common sense to find a way out without resorting to extremes,” he added.
However, he also took a jab at the West, by saying that there were some foreign forces at play, seeking to use the unrest in Belarus for their own benefit. “They want to influence those processes and reach certain decisions, which they think conform with their political interests,” Putin said.
Putin’s remarks drew criticism from the Belarusian opposition as well as foreign leaders. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki urged Russia to cease any plans of intervening in Belarus.
🇵🇱 government urges Russia to immediately withdraw from plans of a military intervention in Belarus, under false excuse of 'restoring control' – a hostile act, in breach of international law and human rights of Belarusian people, who should be free to decide their own fate.
— Mateusz Morawiecki (@MorawieckiM) August 27, 2020
Lukashenko last week accused Lithuania and Poland of stirring tensions at the border with the Grodno region, prompting the deployment of additional Belarusian troops to the area.
The Belarusian Coordination Council, which has been set up to facilitate and oversee the transition of power in the country said on Thursday that it was unacceptable for Russia to have set up any security force for use in Belarus and that such actions violated international law.
NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg has also stressed that Belarus should be able to decide its future on its own, without interference from Russia. “It’s absolutely clear from all NATO Allies that the people in Belarus, they have the right to decide their own future without interference from abroad, interference from Russia,” he said on Thursday. “And, of course, have the right to have free and fair elections,” he added.