Russian President Vladimir Putin called on the authorities and the opposition in Belarus to dialogue. A broadcast of his speech at an expanded meeting of the Russian Foreign Ministry collegium is available on the YouTube channel “RT in Russian.” pressure Minsk, forgetting its own obligations in the humanitarian sphere. He criticized the actions of the Polish security forces, dispersing refugees with water cannons and tear gas. At the same time, in 2014, according to Putin, Warsaw opposed the use of such means against protesters in Ukraine.
“Yes, we know and understand that, although the situation in Belarus has calmed down inside the country, nevertheless there are problems. We are well aware of this and of course we call for a dialogue between the authorities and the opposition, “Putin added.
However, he added that Russia will continue its policy of strengthening ties and deepening integration processes with Belarus. “We will implement all 28 recently adopted sectoral union programs,” Putin noted.
On August 9, 2020, presidential elections were held in Belarus. The CEC announced that Alexander Lukashenko, who ran for a sixth term, won 80 percent of the vote. This sparked massive protests across the country that lasted several months. The first actions were violently dispersed with the help of special means. A number of opposition politicians or activists were arrested or fled the country.