Siarhei Verameyenka: We’ll Show We Want No Exercises, No Alien Troops

People must take on to the Square on September 8 to preserve the independence of Belarus.

Coordinator of the Hrodna branch of the Belarusian National Congress Siarhei Verameyenka told this to the charter97.org when commenting upon the start of the Belarusian-Russian military exercises on technical maintenance of the West-2017.

— I think that these military exercises, just like any other event of the kind which is held in the real or possible conflict zone, pose direct threat to the territory and the people living in it in the first place. I mean us, the Belarusians.

Of course this mostly refers to the conflict between Russia and the West, but Lukashenka, although cornered, wants to play a little bit, as he seems to like the Monomakh's Cap a lot. I think that the Kremlin prepared several plans regarding the West-2017 exercises. I mean they have not only plan A, but plans B, C etc. It is unknown which of them they are going to implement.

Maybe the troops will remain in Belarus, or maybe they will go, but I don’t believe the exercises will have no consequences. It remains unclear whether a real combat counterstand could take place, I think it’s unlikely to happen. The Kremlin has its interests in the West, as they sell raw materials there, moreover, it would have been a suicide to start combat actions against the countries, where their children and family members study, live and work.

Nevertheless, it remains a real threat for us, because, even if the Russian military leave our country, not all of them will leave. Some of them are sure to remain in Belarus. Maybe some new agreements will be signed with regard to these troops. We can already see that the plan of defense of the so-called “Union State” is being implemented.

A column of the military vehicles, about which Belarusian journalist Dzianis Ivashyn wrote, already approached the Polish border. Some unclear moves are taking place in Hrodna — the military vehicles coursed across the city several times. The purpose of all this remains unknown, because Hrodna firing grounds are not involved in the exercises, officially.

The most important thing now is to survive this period, to preserve Belarus. I believe that the Kremlin gaffers still have if not common sense, then some odds and ends of intellect so not to start an open conflict with the West.

— The Warning Action is coming, it is scheduled for September 8 in Minsk. Do you plan to participate in it?

— Yes, I am going to take part in the action. I believe such protests should be held not only in Minsk, but in the other cities of Belarus as well.

— Why is it important to participate in such protest actions?

— It is necessary to come out, to remind the people that we should struggle. We must show our so-called “allies” that we are not some grey mass supporting the “taiga union”, but that we want no exercises, no alien troops on our land.

The Russian-Belarusian exercise West-2017 will start in Belarus in September. A record-breaking number of rail cars was involved to transfer the Russian contingent —more than 4 thousand. Many politicians and military experts believe that the Russian troops will remain in Belarus after the exercises.

The Warning Action demanding to cancel the West-2017 military exercises will start at 7 p.m. on September 8 in the Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk.