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Illarionov: "Crimean Provocations" Can Have a Belarusian Explanation

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Illarionov: "Crimean Provocations" Can Have a Belarusian Explanation
Andrei Illarionov
PHOTO BY RFE/RL

Belarus can become the next target of Russian military attack.

Former Russian presidential economic adviser, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity at the Caton Institute in Washington DC , Andrei Illarionov stated that "the Crimean provocation" could have "the Belarusian explanation."

"First of all, we need to understand what it was. There are two basic versions - Ukrainian and the Kremlin. It is possible that it was some internal Crimean provocations. Due to variety of versions there is no connection between past and following actions. It is clear it is blackmail. It is accompanied by threats, propaganda statements and the situation aggravation in the Donbass", Illarionov told Ukrainian Gordon site.

Illarionov did not rule out that the demonstrative activity of the Russian President Vladimir Putin on the territory of Ukraine may be aimed at diversion of the mind from other operations.

"Too demonstrative movement of the armed forces in the Crimea and the east is alarming. There is a lot of propaganda. When Putin really intends to perform some major operation, he does not mention it. It used to be in Georgia, the Crimea and near Ilovaisk. It is possible that this is an attempt to distract attention from other operations", Illarionov says.

He drew attention to Russian tank units near Smolensk and Yelnya.

"We are told that shock tank troops are revived. Best Russian divisions are deployed in the area of Smolensk and Yelnya. At the same time it is told that they are allegedly directed at Ukraine. But I have doubts. Let's look at a map. It's not even Bryansk, which somehow could be squared with the Ukrainian direction. It is the Belarusian direction. There is much noise about Ukraine, but best shock units are in Smolensk," Illarionov stressed.

According to him, the Kremlin is preparing a military strike against Belarus.

"We have always been taught to track heavy weapons which cannot be quickly and unnoticeably repositioned to the long distances. This is not paratroopers and Special Forces. It is impossible to do with tanks. Belarus can become the next target of a Russian military attack. I'd like to be wrong," Illarionov stressed.

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