Natallia Papkova: It Is Needed To Come Out To Minsk Square On September 8

The “scent” of the West-2017 military exercises is well felt even in Brest.

Head of the Brest city branch of the Belarusian Social-Democratic Party “People’s Assembly” Natallia Papkova said this in an interview to the Charter97.org.

— The Warning Action of Septembert 8 in Minsk is coming up. Are you planning to participate in it?

— Yes, of course, I will participate in the Warning Action in Minsk on September 8. I think we all simply must take part in it as the independence of our country, of our neithbours is under the obvious threat from the side of the Russian Federation. And this threat is called the West-2017 military exercises.

— Is the approaching of the large-scale maneuvres West-2017 felt in Brest?

— Judging from the events that have happened in Brest recently, I can say these are not just military drills, but a particular threat, because, only in our city, the number of automobiles with the Russian number-plates increased in a record-breaking scale in the last month. The people are worried about the high likelihood that the Russian troops will not leave our country after the maneuvers.

— What would you like to tell Belarusians in view of the upcoming Action?

— The future of our country, of our children looks very vague and we need to go to the Warning Action in order to defend the independence of the country, to show that the Belarusian people do not want military exercises, or the presence of the aggressor troops on the territory of Belarus. In general, it is extremely important to participate in such protests! We must draw the world's attention to what is happening!

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

The Warning Action demanding the abolition of the exercises West-2017 will take place at 7 p.m. on September 8 in the Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk.