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Six Lithuanian MPs Denied Belarusian Visas

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Six Lithuanian MPs Denied Belarusian Visas
LAURYNAS KASČIŪNAS
PHOTO: DELFI

The MPs planned to participate in the discussion on the topic of the West-2017 military exercises.

Six Lithuanian MPs who intended to participate in an event organized by the Belarusian opposition on Monday in Minsk, could not obtain Belarusian visas, delfi.lt reports.

The MPs were going to participate in the discussion "Regional Security: Challenges and Prospects" at the invitation of Chairman of the United Civil Party Anatol Liabedzka.

Conservator Laurynas Kasčiūnas confirmed that none of the members of the Lithuanian delegation was issued a Belarusian visa. Apart from him, the following MPs planned to pay a visit to Minsk: two his colleagues by party Rasa Juknevičienė, Audronius Ažubalis; Gintaras Steponavičius, who terminated his membership in the Lithuanian Liberal Movement; “agrarian” Egidijus Vareikis and social semocrat Rimantė Šalaševičiūtė.

"We were to discuss regional security, to participate in the event at the invitation of Liabedzka, all representatives of the opposition should have been there. We were supposed to participate on Monday, so, probably, we will do it "via Skype", it will not be easy to turn us off, " — Laurynas Kasčiūnas said. — "The message we wanted to bring is obvious — we want an independent, self-sustained neighbor, and we hope that after the military exercises this independence will remain, especially in the military sphere."

According to him, the main focus of the discussion was to be the joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises West-2017 starting next week.

“We wanted an independent Belarus, but, apparently, the dialogue which is going on has a rather selective character, from Lukashenka’s side. He got scared of six MPs,”

the politician expressed his astonishment.

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.

A number of firing grounds at the territory of Belarus will be involved into the exercises: near Lepel, Barysau, Vitsebsk, Asipovichy, Ruzhany and Damanava. It was also reported that the reids at the “terrain compartment” near Dretun had been planned.

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.

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