MINSK, 19 August (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko has announced the decisions taken at the Security Council session held by a video link with the participation of regional leaders on 19 August. The president gave instructions aimed at stabilization of the situation in the country, including instructions to maintain security, order and uninterrupted operation of companies, organizations and mass media outlets, and instructions to inform foreign leaders on the situation in Belarus, BelTA has learned.
To the State Border Committee:
“I instruct the State Border Committee to reinforce protection of the state border along the entire perimeter in order to prevent the arrival of foreign militants, weapons, munition and money to finance riots in Belarus. We see this money coming,” the head of state said.
He noted that part of this money is given to protesters, though not all of them. “They give money to people who want to earn by standing with flowers or doing something else. I do not want to say that all of them are like that. However, big money is coming and this is done openly,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The president added that border services should join efforts with intelligence services to block such financial flows and channels.
To the Defense Ministry:
“The Defense Ministry should pay utmost attention to the NATO troops relocation to the territory of Poland and Lithuania. We should track their movements and their intentions. However, at present we are fully aware of their intentions.
It does not bother us much. But certain facts, especially in the Grodno direction, raise concern. Therefore, we must take measures and do not hesitate to deploy our Armed Forces and hardware towards the directions of their movement,” the head of state said.
“This means that we need to keep an eye on these issues, especially in Grodno, in the Grodno direction. Because there is a great desire to destabilize the situation there even more than in Minsk," the Belarusian leader added.
To the Ministry of Internal Affairs:
Aleksandr Lukashenko instructed the Ministry of Internal Affairs to prevent unrest in the country, especially in Minsk. “There should be no more unrest in Minsk. People are tired, people demand peace and silence," the president stressed.
He noted that, on the one hand, it is good that Belarusians had a glance at what they could lose. But, there is a lot of people, the vast majority, who are used to living in a quiet country. We have to return this calm country to them," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
He also ordered to protect workers from slander and threats of the street. “Protect the working people, not only factory workers and factories, but also other working groups, organizations (who are facing threats), media teams,” said the head of state.
“If some people working in the media want to go out to protest and then come back again, they should not have such a chance. If you go, then go. But we need to protect working teams. This is our task today. It is important," the president added.
To the State Security Committee:
The State Security Committee was instructed to disrupt the activities of protest organizers and to identify channels of financing riots in Belarus. “No matter how hard it might be, we should carry on this work and do it to the full extent,” the Belarusian leader emphasized.
To the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
The head of state instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to keep Western leaders updated on the developments in Belarus. “You just need to tell them what is going on in Belarus. You should reach out to Merkel, Macron, Duda, Nauseda and others, and Zelenskyy, so that they know what is going on in Belarus, the official point of view. You should not hesitate to warn them about the responsibility for fomenting riots. Financing riots means fomenting riots. We see today that this financing continues,” the head of state said.
“Secondly, military build-up and drills at the border with Belarus are counterproductive now. They should keep it in mind. They will be responsible if anything happens,” the Belarusian leader said.
To mass media:
“Mass media should explain, inform and warn people that the programs of this ‘black hundred' will lead to the fall of Belarus as a sovereign and independent state. You see it. More than that, they are pushing us to the confrontation with the fraternal nation, Russians. This should never happen. Therefore, mass media should step up their work,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
To the government:
The head of state instructed the government to oversee the implementation of his instructions regarding the uninterrupted operation of enterprises. “I must admit that company executives and the government have done a great job and achieved good results. But there is no relaxing yet,” he said.
According to the president, it is necessary to help heads of enterprises organize the manufacturing process. “It is a must. We cannot leave them alone, face to face with the crowd that is sometimes sitting at the entrance checkpoint, preventing people from working. And there are also some people like this at the enterprises,” the head of state said. “We should not heighten tensions within labor collectives. Nevertheless, if you want to work – then work, just like I said, if not – get out, do not bother others. But there will be no coming back to this enterprise after that. Many people are looking forward to getting a job at these enterprises. Moreover, all these enterprises are already overstaffed,” he added.
Aleksandr Lukashenko also pointed out that it is important to focus on resolving daily issues of people. “The state secretary was right in this respect, the governors also mentioned this,” the president noted.
“People should see that the authorities, especially the central government agencies, not only focus on restoring order in Minsk Hero City and two or three other cities, but also look into the matters that influence the life of our people,” he said.
