MINSK, 8 February (BelTA) – The West already does not like the people's likely choice in the upcoming referendum on the constitutional amendments, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a session of the Security Council on 8 February, BelTA has learned.
"I am sure that the people will make the right choice, a thoughtful and wise choice, in the upcoming referendum. We did everything that depended on us (and we still have time). We have conveyed the essence of the amendments to the people and put the country's fate in the hands of the Belarusian people. Let them make a choice," the president said.
"The West already does not like it. You know that it has always criticized any referendum or election even before they were held. Remember how it was in the past: we had not started a campaign yet, and they had already criticized it. This is exactly how it will be now. The upcoming campaign will not be an exception," the Belarusian leader said.
He stated that the pressure on Belarus in various areas will not stop. "I understand them. They planned a color revolution in the center of Europe but failed. American experts and political scientists called it ‘an unsuccessful attempt at an unconstitutional coup'. They invested huge money in this ‘unsuccessful attempt'. According to our estimates (what we could track) the sum was more than $6 billion. This is exorbitant for Belarus," Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “Those who have failed to work off this money will try to destabilize the situation again. By the way, this is what they're doing now."
"They will put pressure on enterprises, on employees of the education system, healthcare. Their main resource is social networks and messengers," the Belarusian leader continued.
According to him, now they have their main focus on members of precinct and other commissions. “We agreed that these people should be protected in every possible way. The law enforcement agencies have been instructed to ensure their safety. Recently, our minister of internal affairs spoke about this. Those who are engaged in state affairs should not worry. Our situation today is not like it was in 2020, and we will be able to protect everyone. This is our sacred duty. God forbid, they will have a go at anyone. You know what will happen," the head of state warned.
He also did not rule out they will stage some provocations in order to impose additional sanctions or even to blackmail the country by military means. "It has already begun - helicopters, drones, shooting at border signs, border violations," Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “The temporary deployment of NATO troops in Europe has become a permanent presence. This buildup is even increasing."
The president stressed that in these conditions, the main means of ensuring the stability and further development of the country is, first of all, the personal responsibility of each person for the future of the state and herd the immunity to the manipulation of public consciousness.
"Of course, the vertical of power, the economic bloc, law enforcement agencies need to take additional measures to ensure the safety and quiet life of people in the coming period," the president added.
