Sergey Lavrov
(Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov believes that Western forces rule the Belarusian opposition. He stated this in an interview with Channel One following a meeting with US First Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Bigan. Its decryption published on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
“We drew attention to the initiative of the President of Belarus A.G. Lukashenko, which he put forward even before the presidential elections and repeated already in the post-election period, – the initiative for constitutional reform as a basis for consolidating society with the subsequent organization of presidential, parliamentary and local government elections. I believe that a hand is extended to all those who are interested in a stable, united Belarus. It, of course, should be noticed by the opposition and those of our Western partners who are now leading this opposition, ”Lavrov said.
According to him, Russia does not consider it possible to try to impose mediators on the Belarusian leadership and the people from outside, “be it the OSCE, the EU, or some separate neighboring country”.
The minister called Belarusians a wise people who can determine the forms of national dialogue and how it will help to overcome the difficulties that have arisen now.
According to Lavrov, the American ambassador heard serious warnings from Russia about the activities of circles that, “say, in Poland and Lithuania express dissatisfaction with the normalization of the situation in Belarus, and are also trying to provoke violent actions in order to provoke an appropriate response from the security officials.”
Lavrov called the meeting with the American diplomat useful, but expressed doubts about the legitimacy of the Belarusian opposition council. “We would very much like to understand what are the political criteria on which this coordinating council wants to function. There was a lot of contradictory information about the council’s program, ”said the head of Russian diplomacy.
According to him, on the website of opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the goals pursued by this body were described very contradictory. The minister also noted that the composition of the coordinating council also raises questions, since many of its members learned that they are included in it, after the fact.
Rebecca Ross, former spokesman for the US Embassy in Russia reported on Twitter that Lavrov at a meeting with Bigan discussed the situation in Belarus. The American diplomat condemned the use of violence against the protesters and expressed support for the sovereignty of Belarus and the right of its people to self-determination.
Tihanovskaya announced on the creation of an opposition coordination council for the transfer of power in the country on August 14. It is planned to include representatives of associations interested in national dialogue, including labor collectives, parties and trade unions. On the fact of the creation of the coordination council of the opposition, the Prosecutor General’s Office of Belarus aroused criminal case.
The reason for the creation of the council was the results of the presidential elections held in Belarus on August 9. By data The Central Election Commission of the republic, the victory was won by Alexander Lukashenko, for whom 80.1% of voters (4 661 075 people) voted. For his main rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya – 10.1% (588,622 people). However, her headquarters did not recognize the election results and demanded transfer of power by peaceful means.
Since then, rallies have been held in Belarusian cities. The demonstrators are demanding a recount; in the first days of the protests, the security forces dispersed them using special means.
.
