Earlier this month, the Belarusian president reaffirmed his support for: Vladimir Putinwar effort in Ukraine, with during a visit to Moscow, Minsk stressed that Minsk supported and “will continue to support” Russia in its “fight against Nazism”. Lukashenko also emphasized that Belarus “together with fraternal” RussiaBut now he has taken a drastic step in his own country, with… Belarus preparing additional restrictions on the departure of its citizens.
It would reportedly limit their right to leave the country to six months if it “contradicts national security interests”.
The Kiev Independent wrote in a tweet: “Belarus is preparing additional restrictions on the exit of citizens.
A draft law proposes to allow the KGB to limit the right of citizens to leave the country for up to six months if it is ‘contrary to national security interests,’ reports the Belarusian Reformation. “
This is as Lukashenko faces the possibility of a major military uprising amid growing concerns among his officer corps about Mink’s affiliation with Russia and his support for the war in Ukraine.
The Belarusian president’s recent remarks, reaffirming his support for Putin’s war effort in Ukraine, did not go down well with his army’s officer class.
In a stunning open letter addressed to Lukashenko, senior officers of the Special Forces’ Fifth Brigade warned him against sending Belarusian soldiers to fight in Ukraine, claiming that such a move would amount to “pure suicide.”
They also accused Putin of “destroying our sovereignty” and reiterated their support for Ukraine in a further rebuke, saying the two countries had always had friendly relations and labeling the war in the Kremlin as “totally unprovoked”.
The soldiers wrote: “At this time, officers of the Fifth Brigade of the Special Forces have observed the most serious violation of clause one of the Belarusian Constitution by the highest political leadership of Russia.
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“If you join Russia in its fight against Ukraine, it would be an act of sheer suicide.”
Separately, Lukashenko and his close ally Putin held a phone call to discuss a possible response to Lithuania’s latest actions.
The Kremlin said in a brief statement on Telegram that it had discussed “certain possible joint steps related to the illegal restrictions imposed by Lithuania on the transit of goods into the Kaliningrad region”.
This came after Lithuania extended restrictions on trade through its territory to the Russian Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad when the latest set of EU sanctions against Moscow came into effect.
A spokesman for Lithuanian customs said additional goods now banned include concrete, wood, alcohol and alcohol-based industrial chemicals.
The Baltic port of Kaliningrad was annexed by the Soviet Union to Germany almost 80 years ago after World War II and is only connected to the rest of Russia via EU territory, mainly by rail via Belarus through Lithuania.
Russia is outraged by the ban, claiming it amounts to an illegal blockade, but Lithuania insists it has little choice but to enforce EU sanctions.
On Friday, Russia warned Lithuania and the EU it could take “tough measures” against them if transit of some goods to and from Kaliningrad does not resume “within the next few days”.