MINSK, 26 May (BelTA) – The incident with the Belarusian flag in Latvia has sparked a massive wave of patriotism and consolidation of Belarusians, Belarus' Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei said at the meeting with parliamentarians hosted by Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko on 26 May, BelTA informs.
The minister said: “The incident with the Belarusian flag in Latvia has sparked a massive wave of patriotism, including in social networks. It consolidates us even more, even that part of the society that was previously receptive to aggressive rhetoric. Now it became clear what sovereignty they are preparing for us: they will not be only telling us what to do, how to live but also what flag to use.”
“I am sincerely surprised by the hypocrisy of people who are saying that sanctions are targeted, that they are needed to punish the regime,” Vladimir Makei said. “Actually, the sanctions no longer have anything to do with the regime. They affect the life of every Belarusian, they are solely aimed at destroying the economy.”
“Western partners are only concerned about what new sanctions they can impose against Belarusians,” he said.
