Meddling in Belarus discussed in leaders' call

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko discussed the political situation in his country with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Monday.

The Belarusian state-run news agency Belta reported that the two presidents－who have had frequent calls over recent weeks－spoke about the "current situation and the latest developments in the country, especially in the Western context".

The issue of Western interference was also raised during Putin's telephone talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Council President Charles Michel last week.

Monday's call between Putin and Lukashenko was the fourth concerning the situation in Belarus between the leaders since Lukashenko won a sixth presidential term in elections on Aug 9.

Mass protests and clashes with police took place in Minsk and other Belarusian cities after exit poll results were made public.

In an earlier speech, Lukashenko said foreign interference was behind the domestic protests.

He claimed that the protests had been orchestrated by means of telephone calls coming in from some European countries.

Although he didn't provide evidence for his accusations, Lukashenko pledged to respond to attempts to destabilize the situation in Belarus.

"We won't let anyone tear the country apart," said Lukashenko, urging the leaders of those Western countries that have spoken out against his rule to focus on the problems in their own countries.

Foreign interference

Belarus' stand was echoed by Russia, which insisted that foreign interference in the affairs of its neighbor is unacceptable.

According to the Kremlin press service, Putin made it clear to Michel that the EU's meddling in Belarus' affairs is counterproductive.

In response to newly imposed sanctions and the movements of NATO forces in Poland and Lithuania, the Belarusian army will hold large-scale drills on Friday. Recently, Lukashenko said forces from the alliance were moving to the borders of Belarus.

Belarusian Defense Ministry said certain units of the Belarusian Armed Forces will be placed on full alert, and reservists were mobilized on Monday.

During the phone call on Monday, Putin and Lukashenko also discussed measures to combat the coronavirus, and it was agreed that Belarusians would voluntarily take part in Phase 3 trials of a Russian-made vaccine.

Belarus would be the first foreign country to receive deliveries of the Russian vaccine, Belta reported.