Andrei Sannikov: World Leaders Must Seek Withdrawal of Russian Troops From Belarus

• 23.02.2022, 11:37

It is not Belarus that threatens Ukraine, but Lukashenka.

The leader of the European Belarus civil campaign, Andrei Sannikov, commented for Polish Radio (translated - Charter97.org) on the de facto occupation of the territory of Belarus by Russian troops:

- The situation has changed. We can no longer talk about "military exercises" on the territory of Belarus. We are talking about preparations for military aggression against Ukraine with the support of the illegal Lukashenka regime, which uses the territory of Belarus for these purposes.

This has nothing to do with the exercises. We should not talk about "military maneuvers." Because it really is not a "continuation" or "extension" of the exercises.

- You're right. In addition to citing a propaganda message, we should decipher what it actually means. Because Putin and Lukashenka are trying to mask reality with propaganda.

- We see a troop buildup in Belarus. It poses a threat not only to Ukraine but also to European and international security. We should say it out loud.

We must also make it clear that the use of Belarusian territory is illegal because Lukashenka's rule has no legitimacy. He was not elected in elections; he is not recognized by the international community.

We can talk about Lukashenka's occupation regime, which is supported by the Kremlin. And we must add that this is a very dangerous situation.

Putin is playing all the time. We have to keep this in mind. If we keep deluding ourselves into thinking that innocent exercises are taking place in Belarus and we can believe the statements of both the Russian regime and the Lukashenka regime, then we cannot see the threat, the most serious since World War II.

- We cannot repeat propaganda.

- By imitating the language of liars, you support them.

- You're right to say that Lukashenka and Putin are trying to disguise their real plans in various ways. One should keep this in mind. Meanwhile, even a military exercise of this magnitude, Union Resolute, a few months after Exercise West, is a very suspicious and aggressive move, if you look at the context. They potentially threatened Ukraine, the West.

- All previous West exercises were preparations for this type of operation. We remember the scenario of a nuclear attack on Warsaw during Exercise West in 2009.

All these large-scale exercises on the Belarusian territory with the participation of Russian troops were an obvious preparation for aggression.

- Experts note that Russia has been equipping the army for the last 20 years. And this is for a reason.

- Of course.

- The question remains open whether and when Russian troops may be withdrawn from Belarus. What do you think about it?

- The European Belarus civil campaign, which I represent, has already stated that the troops must leave immediately because they are deployed there illegally.

The international community, world leaders must urge the withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Belarus. We are in a difficult situation, but we are still an independent state which does not intend to pose a threat to our neighbors. It is not Belarus that threatens our neighbors, but Lukashenka.

And when we talk about the de-escalation of the situation by Russia, one of the main steps in de-escalation would be the withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Belarus.