Belarus raises alarm about US, NATO military build-up in region

Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko says military build-ups by the United States and NATO near the western borders of his country, Russia, and a number of other states in the region is cause for “serious concern.”

“Once again, the world is on the brink of an unbridled arms race. The most dangerous phenomena are getting worse, namely a military standoff between global centers of power,” Lukashenko said in a statement at an online session of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) on Wednesday.

“We clearly see an increase in systemic events of military nature in Poland and in Baltic states,” he said.

The CSTO is a military alliance consisting of six post-Soviet states — namely Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Belarus — that was founded in 1992.

“Meanwhile, not only Belarus' national interests are targeted by military activity. In this context, one should also consider NATO's statements about the development of some new strategic concept. I believe it is already clear for everyone who and what it will target,” Lukashenko said, without elaborating.

Russia slams West for ‘interfering’ in Belarus internal affairs

The Russian foreign minister has slammed the West for meddling in Belarus’ domestic affairs.

Russia urges Belarus opposition to solve crisis through dialog

During the CSTO session on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin also urged opposing political forces in Belarus to enter into dialog to resolve their differences.

Putin said Belarus was facing unprecedented interference by external forces.

“I really hope the Belarusian people have the political maturity to calmly and without any sharp movements build a domestic political dialog with all political forces and resolve all its internal questions themselves without any kind of external pressure and outside interference,” the Russian leader said.

Belarus has been in turmoil since the August 9 presidential election, which Lukashenko won. His main political opponent, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, rejected the official results and alleged voter fraud. The United States and the European Union (EU) have repeated the allegation, rejecting Lukashenko's re-election.

Tsikhanouskaya has been attempting to incite protests against the Belarusian government from Lithuania, where she has fled to.

Lukashenko has rejected the allegations of vote rigging, accusing Western countries of inciting protests and conspiring to oust his government.

Belarus' Lukashenko vows to leave office after adoption of new constitution

Belarus

Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov went to Minsk to urge Lukashenko to press ahead with his promised constitutional reforms in a bid to defuse the crisis.

The following day, the Belarusian leader said he would step down as president once a new constitution was adopted.

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