The Foreign Ministry of Belarus commented on the statements of the Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky about the events in the republic, noting that Minsk needs support, not “hackneyed advice.”
“You know, Ukraine is a brotherly country for us and the Ukrainian people are brotherly for Belarusians. Therefore, of course, at this frankly difficult moment for our country, I would like to feel some kind of support or at least understanding, and not listen to advice already worn from all sides. Now we definitely do not need them, “BelTA quotes on Sunday, August 23, the words of the press secretary of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry Anatoly Glaz.
The day before, Zelensky said that in the place of the Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko he would hold a repeat presidential election in a short time to resolve the issue of protests in the republic. In addition, the Ukrainian leader noted that he would invite all kinds of international observers to these elections.
On August 17, Zelensky held a closed meeting with the leaders of the country’s security forces, at which he discussed the situation in Belarus and the emergence of possible risks in connection with the protests in the neighboring republic. After that, the Border Service of Ukraine strengthened the protection of the border with Belarus.
In Belarus, after the presidential elections on August 9, protests are taking place. According to the Central Election Commission, Lukashenko won more than 80% of the vote, his rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya – 10%.
People took to the streets of the country who did not agree with the voting results. The protesters are demanding new elections. A number of large enterprises went on strike.