Belarus’ KGB predicts serious escalation of the situation in our region

We should expect a serious escalation of the situation in our region in the medium term – as stated by Ivan Tertel, the Chairman of the State Security Committee (KGB) of Belarus

“We should expect a serious escalation of the situation in our region which is connected with a number of circumstances. We state that there are camps for the training of militants on the territory of Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, and the Czech Republic,” said Ivan Tertel.

KGB Chief noted that he regularly reports to the President of Belarus on the current situation, “In fact, our President is currently manually managing the national security system, taking into account all the acuteness. It happens that I report to our President two or three times a day about the current situation and the need to make certain decisions. We state that a serious escalation of the situation in our region should be expected in the medium term which is connected with a number of circumstances. For us, the most relevant thing nowadays is what the entire security bloc under the leadership of the President is doing: repelling an attack by a terrorist conglomerate from the territory of neighbouring states. We ascertain (and this is not a secret, such stories periodically break through on the air) that there are militant training camps on the territory of Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, and the Czech Republic. We know exactly the recruitment points; we know who is doing this. We know the camps for their training, we know personally the instructors, and we know who is trained in this regard and at what stages.”

Ivan Tertel said that the recruited ‘adepts’ are then trained with the help of foreign instructors, including in Poland. Then they are sent for a ‘trial’ to Ukraine to participate in active hostilities. And only then such persons are transferred to the territory of other states.

“Ultimately, their task is to stir up the situation in our country, to achieve a change in power through an armed rebellion,” said the KGB Chairman. “The commission of terrorist attacks is their tool. Of course, all these people are an instrument in the interests of other states. They are also the driving force in solving those geopolitical problems that our neighbours have. In this regard, we are doing a lot of work. For each of these people, although they hide under pseudonyms and nicknames, we have our own dossier. We know their inspirers, centres in Warsaw, Vilnius and other capitals. We know their so called inspirers, who classify themselves as politicians, not being such. But all of them will have to talk to the Prosecutor General.”

Ivan Tertel reminded that for the recruited people there is still an opportunity now to make a choice, to return to their homeland, taking advantage of the special commission founded for this purpose and headed by Belarus’ Prosecutor General. Nevertheless, the KGB Chief is sure that all of them will sooner or later bear responsibility for their actions.

At the same time, Ivan Tertel added that the special services expect the intensification of terrorist activities on the territory of Belarus, “This threat is growing. According to our estimates, we reported to the Head of State that around the spring of this year, it is planned to intensify terrorist activities on our territory, e.g., Machulishchi, Grodno... There are other examples that we have never talked about.”

The KGB Chairman said that Belarus is also liaising with international structures that are engaged in the fight against terrorism, “There is an understanding in this regard. Therefore, I would say, not a hopeless work, including in this vein. We have a firm position. We, as the Head of State stated, will not take anyone prisoner.”

At the same time, Ivan Tertel called on the citizens of Belarus to be vigilant, “If a person even asked you to live in an apartment, bear in mind that these can be different people who ultimately endanger you, your family. In this situation, I urge our citizens to contact the internal affairs bodies, state security. We will respond to these cases promptly and harshly, attracting, where necessary, other means to solve these problems.”