State Secretary of Security Council on military-political situation around Belarus

Despite the fact that the situation inside Belarus is calm and controlled, the events developing near the country’s borders should not be ignored – as stated by the State Secretary of the Security Council, Aleksandr Volfovich, following today’s meeting of the Security Council with the participation of the President

According to Mr. Volfovich, the military-political situation around Belarus continues to escalate. “The actions that are being taken by the United States and the leadership of the NATO bloc around our country cannot but cause concern. We see their aggressive actions aimed primarily at destabilising the situation inside Belarus,” he said.

The State Secretary stressed that seventeen battalion tactical groups are permanently stationed in the Eastern European region, near Belarus’ borders, and 120-130 combat aircraft are stationed at airfields in Poland and the Baltic States. Three major exercises are taking place in Europe today, including one in Lithuania.

“The situation on the southern borders of Belarus is also very tense,” Mr. Volfovich stated. “We are accused of having created some kind of cover groups, reinforcements on the southern borders. Actually, five years ago, for example, we did not guard the southern borders at all, because we viewed Ukraine as our neighbour, a country that did not pose a threat to our republic. At present, our groups in the southern direction are many times smaller in number than those of Ukraine. All these threats must be taken into account and responded to in a timely manner.”

Mr. Volfovich noted that, at today’s meeting of the Security Council, the President of Belarus approved the intent for defence for the medium term. On the basis of this document, a state defence plan will be developed in detail by government agencies during the year.

“Next October or November, a set of documents of the plan for Belarus’ defence will be fully drawn up and submitted to the Security Council for approval,” Mr. Volfovich stressed.