Putin says Russia has set up force to aid Belarus leader if needed

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Putin says Russia has set up force to aid Belarus leader if needed

By Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber and Andrei Makhovsky

 

FILE PHOTO: 2019 European Games - Closing Ceremony - Dinamo Stadium, Minsk, Belarus - June 30, 2019. President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko speak in the stands during the closing ceremony REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko//File Photo

 

MOSCOW/MINSK (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday the Kremlin had set up a police force to support Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko at his request, although it would not be deployed unless unrest there spun out of control.

 

The remarks were the strongest signal yet that Russia is prepared to use force if needed in Belarus, where mass demonstrations have taken place since an Aug. 9 election that the opposition says was rigged to prolong Lukashenko's 26-year rule.

 

"We have of course certain obligations towards Belarus, and the question Lukashenko raised was whether we would provide the necessary help," Putin told state television.

 

"I told him Russia would fulfil all its obligations. Alexander Grigorivich (Lukashenko) asked me to create a reserve police force and I have done that. But we agreed this would not be used unless the situation got out of control."

 

The Belarusian opposition Coordination Council said Moscow's move to set up such force violated international law.

 

Poland, a NATO member and neighbour, also demanded Russia jettison any plans to intervene. Poland "urges Russia to immediately withdraw from plans of a military intervention in Belarus, under (the) 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," Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said in a tweet.

 

Belarus has been in turmoil since the election. Security forces have beaten protesters and arrested thousands in a bid to stamp out mass demonstrations and strikes.

 

The police appeared to take a less aggressive posture last week, but arrests of protesters have since increased again.

 

"The last two days we see a strengthening of repression," Valentin Stefanovich, an activist at the civil rights group Spring, told Reuters. "The authorities waited for the activity on the streets to taper off and then started their push. I hope that at least the abuse and torture has stopped."

 

On Thursday, around 1,000 people gathered on the main square, some forming a chain and praying, while police and soldiers massed. Police arrested scores of them.

 

About 20 journalists preparing to cover the rally, including a Reuters cameraman, were also detained. Their telephones and identity documents were confiscated.

 

Most of the journalists were later freed. However, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde tweeted late on Thursday that a Swedish journalist, Paul Hansen, was being held in Minsk. She demanded his immediate release.

 

RUSSA'S BUFFER AGAINST NATO

Belarus is Russia's closest ally among ex-Soviet states, and its fortified frontiers with NATO members are crucial to Moscow's defence strategy. Moscow and Minsk have even proclaimed a "union state", complete with a Soviet-style red flag.

 

Lukashenko has had a difficult personal relationship with Putin. Nevertheless, Russia has taken steps to shore him up, such as sending journalists to staff state TV after employees resigned to protest against what they called propaganda.

 

Lukashenko said he had agreed with Putin to refinance a maturing $1 billion loan, though Russia's finance ministry said it had not received any such request.

 

The West has so far acted cautiously, wary of provoking a Russian military response as took place in Ukraine in 2014.

 

In Berlin, EU foreign ministers discussed possible sanctions against a short list of up to 20 Belarusians blamed for electoral fraud or the abuse of protesters.

 

Lukashenko has accused the West of massing troops on Belarus's frontiers. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg denied this.

 

"We respect the sovereignty and there is no military build-up by NATO close to Belarus," he told Reuters. "We call on Russia to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an independent country, Belarus."

 

(Additional reporting by Polina Ivanova and Tom Balmforth in Moscow and Joanna Plucinska in Warsaw; Writing by Angus MacSwan, Peter Graff and Richard Chang)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-08-28

 

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[Tug]

What about nato Putin wouldent dare interfere in a people’s quest of democracy oh I forgot trump sorry Belarus 

[jesimps]

That Putin's a little jobbie.

 

[2 is 1]

All know what happen and still happening in Ukraine! Western coundry's should take distance and hope Belarus get democracy peacefully! Don't tease "sleeping bear". If worst happen , western coundry's can't do nothing again!

Unfortunately!

[Foghorn]

Against the people 

[Proboscis]

This is what is known as diplomacy by threat of massacre.

 

Putin knows that you can send a force abroad to kill and abuse people and the force will do it as those foreign people are not your brothers and sisters. It might be a different story when the time comes for Russian people themselves - will the army fire on their own people?

[rudi49jr]

Germany under Hitler wanted “Lebensraum im Osten”, which translates to living space in the east. Apparently Putin is looking for “Lebensraum im Westen”, living space in the west. I’m not sure at all if the USA and/or Europe would interfere if Putin decided to annex Belarus.

[Cats4ever]

Good on you Putin - I'd love to have a drink with him - "What's your poison Vlad?" I'd ask.

[Iron Tongue]

4 hours ago, rudi49jr said:

Germany under Hitler wanted “Lebensraum im Osten”, which translates to living space in the east. Apparently Putin is looking for “Lebensraum im Westen”, living space in the west. I’m not sure at all if the USA and/or Europe would interfere if Putin decided to annex Belarus.

Russia is already the largest country in the world.  It is filled with depopulated villages and towns from the troubles and negative population growth from the 1990s, I doubt that "lebensraum" would be an excuse that even Putin could get away with.  Besides, Belarus sucks more than Russia.

 

While the US and NATO would not intervene if Russia invaded Belarus because they have no defense treaties with them,  the West might find a few more sanctions to tack-on to what already is there.  But ultimately, Russia needs Belarus separate as a buffer between themselves and NATO.

[puipuitom]

10 hours ago, Tug said:

What about nato Putin wouldent dare interfere in a people’s quest of democracy oh I forgot trump sorry Belarus 

Nobody wants to die for  Danzig" anymore, especialy seen last experience.

And the USA has mortal casualties enough thanks to own hands.

[puipuitom]

4 hours ago, rudi49jr said:

Germany under Hitler wanted “Lebensraum im Osten”, which translates to living space in the east. Apparently Putin is looking for “Lebensraum im Westen”, living space in the west. I’m not sure at all if the USA and/or Europe would interfere if Putin decided to annex Belarus.

Putin has "Lebensraum enough, but wants a buffer between Russia and the West.

[tribalfusion001]

It's sad how these despots cling onto power even though the population don't want them anymore, reminds me of another country 555

[Paiman]

 

If Belarus leader refuses the help, he might be invited to a cup of tea.

 

So he better do as told.