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Kolesnikova’s whereabouts remain unclear
© APA (AFP / Archive)
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has admitted that he may have been in power for too long. “Yes, maybe I stayed too long,” Lukashenko told Russian media on Tuesday. He did not rule out early elections. The whereabouts of opposition politician Maria Kolesnikova is still unclear. It is said that she was arrested.
As announced by the border guard, Kolesnikova allegedly wanted to travel to Ukraine. She had arrived at the checkpoint in a car with her colleague Ivan Kravtsov and her spokesman Anton Rodnenkow. The two men would have crossed the border. This was also confirmed by the Ukrainian side. Earlier it was reported that the three had gone to Ukraine.
Information provided by the authorities cannot be independently verified. According to border guards, Kolesnikowas was arrested to “clarify the circumstances.” But no details were given.
Meanwhile, Lukashenko admitted that he may have been in power for too long. But he is the only person who can currently protect the country, said the head of state. According to a Russian Moscow Talks journalist, Lukashenko made it clear that despite massive protests in his country, he would not resign.
Therefore, Lukashenko did not rule out early presidential elections. According to the state agency RIA Novosti, he said early elections could take place after the constitutional reform.
The authoritarian head of state refused to hold talks with the opposition. “This is not an opposition. Everything it offers is a disaster for Belarus,” Lukashenko said. The 66-year-old claimed that his opponents wanted to break “ties with brotherly Russia.” Minsk, on the other hand, wants further integration with Moscow. The two countries agreed to closer cooperation 20 years ago on a state of the Union treaty.
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