MINSK, 19 March (BelTA) – We need to help Russians stranded in Poland to return home, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he heard out a report on the epidemiological situation in the country on 19 March, BelTA has learned.
The head of state said that countries had shut their borders in an attempt to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. According to the president, such decisions do not help address the problem and create barriers for people getting home.
“For example, Russians, who are currently stranded in Poland, cannot leave for Russia. Since a big number of Russians have been left stranded near our border, I would like to give you, Igor Petrovich, a personal instruction to enlist the help of anyone you want and help the Russian nationals return home from Poland,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said addressing Head of the Belarus President's Administration Igor Sergeyenko.
“It is no good that our brothers are stranded there. It is clear what the situation is. We need to help them, no matter what our current relations with the Russian authorities are. It is not people's fault," the president stressed.
He instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and law enforcement agencies to address the issue. “Please, help the Russians to leave Poland and get home, since the Russians [the authorities] cannot sort things out there,” the head of state added.
