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Belarus Arrests Suspected Russian Mercenaries, Alleges Election Plot

Charles Maynes

   MOSCOW - Relations between Russia and its erstwhile ally Belarus veered
   into uncharted territory after Belarusian security forces on Wednesday
   detained more than 30 suspected Russian mercenaries near the capital
   Minsk -- allegedly for trying to disrupt Belarus' Aug. 9 presidential
   elections.
   The arrests came in the midst of a charged election season, one that
   has seen Belarus's longtime President Alexander Lukashenko detain
   several would-be rivals only to see their wives step up as placeholder
   candidates.
   In particular, the candidacy of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya -- whose
   husband, the political blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky now sits in jail on
   what she says are trumped up charges -- has emerged as the opposition's
   lead candidate and an unexpected political star attracting large
   crowds.
   .
   The timing of the Russians' detention prompted questions of whether the
   arrests were a pretext for canceling elections or declaring a national
   emergency.
   On Thursday, the Belarusian election commission gathered remaining
   candidates for a meeting and announced that security measures at
   rallies and mass gatherings would be increased.
   Belarus' Investigative Committee also said the detained Russians and
   two would-be presidential candidates would face joint criminal charges
   -- suggesting Belarusian authorities were trying to exploit the
   incident for political gain.
   Lukashenko also appeared in a televised meeting with his Security
   Council, where he insisted on clarification about the Russians presence
   from Moscow.
   "If they're Russians, then we should reach out immediately to
   appropriate structures of the Russian Federation, so they explain
   what's happening," [1]said Lukashenko.
   The Belarusian leader added, "we don't have any goal to smear a country
   with whom we're close."
   In related moves, Belarus' Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian
   ambassador in Minsk and both countries said they were working to
   strengthen border controls.
   Neither the Kremlin nor Russia's Foreign Ministry has commented on the
   incident.
   An odd holiday
   The arrests were first announced by the Belarusian state news agency
   Belsat, which claimed those arrested were part of a 200 strong
   paramilitary force that had infiltrated Belarus ahead of the vote.
   Only the report claimed Belarus security services had discovered 32 of
   the Russians at a resort outside of Minsk -- with the Russians standing
   out for both their camouflage clothes and un-holiday-like demeanor.

References

   1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrS1b1bPMek&feature=emb_logo

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