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Minsk blamed Kiev for the possible consequences of suspending contacts between Ukraine and Belarus.
The suspension of contacts between Ukraine and Belarus is causing “concrete damage” to relations between Belarus and Ukraine. This is stated in the comment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus in relation to the statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmitry Kuleba, on a pause in relations between the countries.
“Belarus did not put the dialogue with Ukraine in the so-called pause, it is not simply about pressing a button on the player. It is about concrete damage to the close multifaceted relations of the two neighboring states. Responsibility for the possible consequences of this This step falls entirely on the Ukrainian side, and also, as we see, on its most important foreign policy partners, “said the Belarusian Foreign Ministry.
The department representative added that Minsk “is ready to continue cooperation at all levels and as long as Ukraine and its friendly and fraternal people are ready for us.”
On August 17, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned the ambassador to Belarus, Igor Kizim, to Kiev for consultations. Thus, Ukraine reacted to the transfer of mercenaries detained in Minsk to Russia. the private military company “Wagner” (some of them participated in the hostilities in Donbas, and Ukraine requested their extradition). The Ukrainian ministry noted that the transfer of the Wagnerites to Moscow “it eroded trust between countries and dealt a severe blow to bilateral relations. “
On August 27, Kuleba, commenting on the situation in Belarus, said that “all contacts with the Belarusian side have stopped.”
“Only when we are convinced that these contacts will not lead to reputational, political or moral losses for Ukraine, these contacts will be re-established,” the minister stressed.
Furthermore, on August 28, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine did not rule out Ukraine joining the European sanctions against Belarusian officials.
Mass protests have been going on in Belarus since August 9. The protesters believe that the results of the presidential elections, which took place from August 4-9, were falsified. According to official data, current President Alexander Lukashenko won with 80.1% of the voters. Opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya came in second with 10.1% of the vote. The rest of the candidates earned less than 2%. At the same time, alternative exit polls showed the opposite picture: Tikhanovskaya’s confident victory.
The Belarusian security forces violently dispersed the demonstrations, in particular with the use of stun grenades, rubber bullets and water cannons.
During the protests, more than 7,000 protesters were arrested (many of them have already been released), hundreds were injured and wounded. According to official figures, four protesters died.
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