MINSK, 4 August (BelTA) – All decisive battles for national security are happening in the media space today, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he delivered his annual address to the Belarusian people and the National Assembly on 4 August, BelTA has learned.
“It is in the information field where all decisive battles for national security take place today. The world has entered the era of hybrid wars and ‘color' revolutions. Yesterday we watched such scenarios as outsiders, but today we are actually drawn into them," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The president noted that information resources are used extensively for this purpose. These are, in particular, the internet, messengers and social networks. “Over the past months social networks and Telegram channels have been flooded with nonsense, dirty, shameless lies. People have lost decency. I am not even talking about people I nurtured and fostered,” he said. “But that's okay. Children are different even within one family. But look at our artistic people - they were all accommodating and agreeable yesterday and look what happened to them in just 24 hours!' the president wondered.
The president said that at one of the meetings with senior officials, he threw such a phrase: “I am a patient person. I like to hear different points of view, different opinions. I came to this post from the opposition. They shot at me, beat me. I did not complain. I knew what I got myself into.”
“We, the government, and I, the incumbent president, will accept any decision you make. Just never betray. Betrayal is not forgiven even in heaven. If you are incapable of or unprepared for something, step aside. Stay away and let us save the country. In a year or two we will rectify this situation. We will do what the Belarusian people need. Yet, you should not solve a single issue on emotions today,” stressed the head of state.
He added that hidden threats are very dangerous today. “Modern information weapons work not only with the consciousness but also with human subconscious, which is the most dangerous thing. People do not even notice that they become an object of manipulation. We assumed and were not mistaken that all these methods of influence will be used during the current election campaign. The goal is to pit people against each other, to deceive, frighten, confuse and eventually provoke criminal offenses,” the president said.
“Yes, there is no war, no shooting yet. They have not pushed the trigger yet. The attempt to organize riots in the center of Minsk is already obvious. Huge resources have been put in and the latest technology has been mobilized against Belarus,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko.
