MINSK, 25 May (BelTA) - The incident with the Belarusian state flag in Latvia is an assault on the sovereignty of Belarus, an expression of disregard of the country, its state symbols and the people, Oleg Belokonev, the chairman of the Standing Commission on National Security of the House of Representatives, said as the House of Representatives adopted a statement of the National Assembly in connection with the incident with the Belarusian state flag in Latvia, BelTA has learned.
"We have witnessed another outrageous case in the policy of double standards," said Oleg Belokonev. “Belarus is a small very peaceful state. We have no territorial claims to any of the states bordering us. Our national interests do not extend beyond our borders. We do not teach anyone how to hold elections, including the mayor of Riga, who was re-elected twice. We do not interfere in the internal affairs of other states. Yet we are a thorn in Europe's side."
According to the MP, this gig by the Riga mayor could be interpreted as populism. "But the presence of Latvia's foreign minister means that this act is an assault on the sovereignty of our country. It is an expression of disregard of the country, its state symbols and the people. This is unforgivable. This is punishable," he said. “I am a member of a friendship group with Latvia. Recently we had a videoconference meeting with Latvian officials. One of them openly said that they allocated more than $240,000 to support the ‘resistance forces' last year and more than $150,000 this year. They are not shy to say that they have interfered in the internal affairs of our country. Another unfriendly step was the removal of the flag."
"We are very kind people and a kind nation. But we shouldn't let anyone wipe their feet on us. I think we need to think through a set of retaliation measures beyond the parliament's statement. There is no need to be afraid of anyone," Oleg Belokonev said.
