MINSK, 9 August (BelTA) – Nobody has launched and will not launch any repressions against followers of alternative presidential candidates. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement while talking to reporters after casting his vote during the presidential election on 9 August, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed: “Nobody has launched and will not launch any repressions in violation of the law. Observe the law. Then all talks about repressions or something else will cease. There is nothing but the law! If the law is violated, we will respond. Our responses have been mild. Honestly speaking, we have always restrained the response of law enforcement agencies.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted he receives no personal gains from pressure on opponents. “No pressure benefits me at present. What pressure? There is no pressure. I want you to understand that if something happens to these staffs [of alternative presidential candidates], I will have to bear responsibility. This is why I dread having to live till tomorrow's morning without anything happening to them,” the head of state said.
The president said that every case of detention should be thoroughly investigated and reasons should be found out. He stressed that arrests without legal reasons would only harm his interests. “I don't want that. It only damages me. All those are fake news or far-fetched accusations,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.
