2 hours agoNATO forces are at our door, Russia offers military assistance to Lucashencon
Periskopi(6 years ago)
(6 years ago)Official Moscow today offered military assistance to Belarus, whose leader Aleksandar Lukashenko rejected Western demands for a repeat presidential election and accused NATO for gathering forces at the country's western border. Belarus has been shaken by street protests for a week after protesters accused Lukashenko of stealing [...] elections.
Belarus has been shaken by street protests for a week after protesters accused Lukashenko of stealing Sunday's election, which he refused.
Earlier, Lukashenko spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who promised the Belarusian leader that Moscow, if necessary, was willing to help him militarily in line with the collective security pact, announces the Kremlin.
Strong security forces have been deployed on the streets of Minsk after Lukashenko's supporters gathered for the first time since the elections, the same place where critics of the president, who has been in power for 26 years, are expected to protest later today.
Lukashenko (65) said NATO tanks and planes were deployed 15 minutes from the Belarus border and that neighbouring countries are demanding that elections be repeated, which he repeatedly refuses.
He claims foreign governments were trying to bring it down and reminded Putin of Putin's promise to help him militarily if necessary.
NATO's “Forces are at our door,” said Lukashenko, adding that Belarus would be “dead as state” if there were new elections.
The European Union is considering imposing sanctions in response to a violent confrontation with protesters.
