Putin says country fully supports Belarus’ sovereignty, independence

Photo: www.facebook.com/Vladimir Putin

Russia fully supports Belarus’ sovereignty and independence, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said here Thursday while meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

“While we are in hospitable Minsk, we would like to stress that Russia fully supports Belarus’ sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity,” Mishustin said.

Pointing out that Belarus shares a close relationship with Russia, Mishustin said, “This is also about hundreds, thousands, or millions of people who are practically one nation.”

Mishustin also said the governments of the two countries are in regular close contact.

For that matter, Moscow and Minsk are firmly against attempts to tear Belarus away from Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.

“We will respond to those who are trying to destabilize the situation in Belarus and who have been trying for many years to tear Belarus away from Russia,” Lavrov said at a news conference following talks with Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei.

Russia condemns foreign countries that exert pressure on the legitimate authorities of Belarus and openly support the opposition, he said, adding that Moscow will categorically suppress foreign attempts to organize provocation against Belarus, especially via multilateral platforms.

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Russia sees the presidential elections in Belarus as valid and looks forward to the normalization of the situation through dialogue in the framework of the constitution and law, Lavrov said.