Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsihanouskaya warned on Saturday that the Russian leadership might try to involve Belarus in solving the internal power struggle in their country.
The Belarusian opposition called on the citizens of the country to take advantage of the tense situation in Russia and throw the representatives of the Russian armed forces out of the country in order to liberate Belarus. A Ukrainian newspaper reported on the matter Ukrainian Pravda.
Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsihanouskaya said in his publication on Saturday in the videothat the president of Russia Vladimir Putin may try to involve Belarus in an internal Russian conflict. Even at that time, the forces of the mercenary company Wagner were their leaders Yevgeny Prigozhin with the leadership heading to Moscow to oust the country’s military leadership.
– I urge the Belarusian diplomats, army and authorities to remember that we have our own national interests. Putin and Prigozhin are not friends of Belarus. You don’t have to choose their side. The people of Belarus must defend their own country, says Tsihanouskaja.
– Every Belarusian must now protect the security and self-determination of their country. To save our country from becoming what Russia has become, he adds.
– I also appeal to the armed forces of Belarus: we cannot hope that Russia will leave Belarus alone. Now is the best time to throw the Russian army out of our country. If we miss this opportunity, Russia will do to us what it did to Ukraine.
Tsihanouskaja also called for the border between Belarus and Russia to be closed. He said that he had established an operational headquarters, where he invited representatives of Belarusian democratic agencies, volunteer organizations and the Kastuś Kalinoŭski regiment.
The Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment, made up of Belarusian opposition volunteers, has been involved in the defense of Ukraine since Russia began a full-scale war of aggression. The regiment released its own on Saturday his video messagewhich urged soldiers, reservists and civilians to wait for the signal when it would be time to act.
Leader of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has allowed Russia to use Belarusian soil in the war against Ukraine. He also took part in mediating tensions between Prigozhin and the Russian military leadership on Saturday.
Lukashenko also depends on Russian support to stay in power. He is believed to have lost the 2020 presidential election, which led to massive protests in Belarus. However, Lukashenka’s administration suppressed the protests harshly with the support of Russia.