MINSK, 6 May (BelTA) - In an interview with RIA Novosti, Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Aleinik spoke about the facts of recruitment activities by the Ukrainian special services, BelTA has learned.
The minister stressed that recruitment activities through diplomatic missions are illegal both from the point of view of international law and also the national legislation of the overwhelming majority of states. "Recruitment is illegal," he said.
At the same time, such cases have happened in Belarus. "Recently, we have uncovered a group of students who were recruited by the Ukrainian special services to prepare and commit terrorist acts," the minister said. "Criminal procedures have been launched, investigative actions are underway." Sergei Aleinik considers such facts of recruitment as completely inhumane and doubly inhumane when it comes to children. According to him, four people were detained as part of the criminal case on the recruitment of Belarusian teenagers.
In addition, the minister drew attention to the attempts to transfer weapons and explosives to Belarus to commit terrorist acts in Belarus and also in Russia. "We understand that today the sphere of aspirations largely covers Belarus and also Russia. Channels to transfer weapons and explosives can be used anywhere," he said. For example, the KGB head spoke about this at the recent Belarusian People's Congress. He cited a number of specific facts about the uncovered Ukrainian residentura of 20 people and the detention of about 30 saboteurs and people who prepared and planned, among other things, terrorist acts.
According to the minister, such formations are supported from Ukraine but also, for example, from Lithuania. "The information that we have, which we have conveyed, including through diplomatic channels, shows that the Lithuanian authorities are not just lenient, they actually support and finance the training of paramilitary formations that seek to overthrow the legitimate government of Belarus and to use terrorist, extremist activities against our country," Sergei Aleinik said.
He also added that Belarus is aware of the facts of training and financing of such paramilitary formations in Lithuania.
