Russia sets up law enforcement unit on Lukashenko’s request to aid Belarus - Putin
<p> MINSK, Aug 27 - PrimePress. Russia has set up a backup law enforcement unit on the request of incumbent President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, however, it will not be used so far, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday in an interview broadcast on the Rossiya-1 TV channel. </p> <p> </p> <p> Putin says he received a request from Lukashenko to form a backup law enforcement unit. However, the president also agreed that the unit would not be used unless the situation got out of control. </p> <p> </p> <p> Putin explained that the unit would not be used “unless extremist elements hiding behind political slogans cross certain lines”, namely, unless they begin to “torch houses, banks, to try seizing administrative buildings and so on.” </p> <p> </p> <p> “Russia assumes that all problems in Belarus will be solved peacefully. There is no need for the use of Russian forces in Belarus so far, I hope not, and I agree with this in Moscow and Minsk,” Putin said. </p> <p> </p> <p> Mass protest actions began across Belarus on August 9, 2020 after the presidential election. The Central Election Commission officially reported that incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko polled 80.1% and would stay in office for the sixth term. The first post-election days saw a massive crackdown on nonviolent actions of protest. The riot police used tear gas, water cannons, stun grenades and rubber bullets against protesters. According to official reports, more than 7,000 people were detained, hundreds were injured, and three protesters died. Several enterprises announced strikes. End </p>
2020-08-28
Primepress
MINSK, Aug 27 - PrimePress. Russia has set up a backup law enforcement unit on the request of incumbent President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, however, it will not be used so far, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday in an interview broadcast on the Rossiya-1 TV channel.
Putin says he received a request from Lukashenko to form a backup law enforcement unit. However, the president also agreed that the unit would not be used unless the situation got out of control.
Putin explained that the unit would not be used “unless extremist elements hiding behind political slogans cross certain lines”, namely, unless they begin to “torch houses, banks, to try seizing administrative buildings and so on.”
“Russia assumes that all problems in Belarus will be solved peacefully. There is no need for the use of Russian forces in Belarus so far, I hope not, and I agree with this in Moscow and Minsk,” Putin said.
Mass protest actions began across Belarus on August 9, 2020 after the presidential election. The Central Election Commission officially reported that incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko polled 80.1% and would stay in office for the sixth term. The first post-election days saw a massive crackdown on nonviolent actions of protest. The riot police used tear gas, water cannons, stun grenades and rubber bullets against protesters. According to official reports, more than 7,000 people were detained, hundreds were injured, and three protesters died. Several enterprises announced strikes. End