Kommersant daily: Lukashenka Does not Leave for Maneuvers in Russia

The ruler reassessed his plans.

The Belarusian ruler will not likely be present on the Russian training area to inspect the West-2017 exercises. Kommersant reports referring to a military and diplomatic source.

According to the source, initially it was assumed that Putin would arrive at the Russian training area together with the ruler of Belarus Aliaksandr Lukashenka. But, according to the latest information of Kommersant's interlocutor, Lukashenka has reassessed his plans and, most likely, will not fly to Russia.

Dmitry Peskov informed Izvestiya that Putin and Lukashenka would inspect the exercises at a Russian training area.

Last time the leaders of two countries watched the maneuvers during the West-2013 exercises first in the Hrodna region (Belarus) and later in the Kaliningrad region (Russia).

West-2017 exercises officially started on September 14 and will last until September 20.

Many politicians as well as military experts believe that Russian troops will remain in Belarus after the exercises.

A number of military training areas of Belarus will be involved (near Lepel, Barysau, Vitsebsk, Asipovichy, Ruzhany and Damanava). It is reported about planned raids on the "territory" near Dretun.

On September 8 the Warning Action demanding the abolition of the West-2017 exercises was held on Kastrychnitskaya Square, Minsk.