The incident with the detention of Russians in Belarus is a joint operation of Ukrainian and American special services, it is known for sure, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
Earlier, the Prosecutor General's office of the Russian Federation reported that 32 Russians who were detained in Belarus are currently in Russia. One of the Russian citizens detained in Belarus, who also has Belarusian citizenship, remained in the Republic. The transfer of Russian citizens to the Russian Federation was carried out in accordance with international and national laws, the Prosecutor General's office noted.
"It's obvious now. This is an operation of the special services. These people, whom you mentioned, were secretly used to move them to the territory of Belarus and set completely legal goals for them. They were told to go to third countries, to Latin America and the Middle East, just for absolutely legal work. In fact, they were dragged to the territory of Belarus and presented as a possible strike force to sway the situation during the election campaign," Putin said in an interview with Russia 1 TV channel.
The Russians, as Putin noted, "were simply lured there, dragged across the border."
"Our border guards did not let them travel them, by the way. They couldn't come in. But according to forged documents, they were actually transported. This operation is carried out by the Ukrainian special services together with the American ones. It is now known for sure, " the President said. On July 29, the Belarusian authorities announced the detention of 33 Russian citizens who, according to Minsk, were "militants" of a private military company. IC Belarus specified that the detainees were suspected of preparing mass riots in the Republic. At the same time, according to the special services, earlier information was received about the arrival in Belarus of "more than 200 militants to destabilize the situation during the election campaign". The Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that the Belarusian side's odious interpretation of the detention of Russians did not stand up to any criticism, and called for an end to fueling unnecessary negative emotions.
Press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov earlier said that with a high degree of confidence, it could be said that the Russians detained in Belarus were employees of the PSC, were in transit and missed their flight. The detainees, according to Peskov, did not commit illegal actions, and Russia did not interfere and does not interfere in the internal affairs of Belarus. Putin and members of the Security Council, as Peskov clarified, expect to soon clarify all the circumstances of the detention of the Russians and their release.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from RIA Novosti