Moscow demands that Belarus free 33 detained Russians

Kremlin demanded Friday that Belarus quickly release 33 Russian private security contractors it detained on terrorism charges, dismissing accusations of plots during Belarus presidential campaign as bogus.

allegations represent an unprecedented escalation of tensions between Russia and neighboring Belarus, tritionally close allies, as Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko seeks a sixth term in Aug. 9 election.

Belarusian officials said employees of private Russian military contractor Wagner, who were detained Wednesday, are facing a criminal probe on charges of plotting terror attacks in Belarus amid country’s presidential election campaign.

Ukrainian authorities, meanwhile, said Friday y will ask Belarus to hand over 28 of detainees on charges of fighting alongside Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Wagner company is linked to Yevgeny Prigozhin, a Russian businessman who was indicted in United States for meddling in 2016 U.S. presidential election. firm has allegedly deployed hundreds of military contractors to eastern Ukraine, Syria and Libya.

Independent observers and opposition supporters in Belarus see detention of Russians as part of authoritarian Lukashenko’s efforts to shore up sagging public support.

Kremlin, which first reacted cautiously to Belarus’ move, toughened its stance Friday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia expects Belarus to quickly free detainees.

“ unwarranted detention of 33 Russian citizens doesn’t fit into framework of allied relations,” Peskov said during a conference call with reporters. “We expect our Belarusian allies to clear up this incident immediately and release our citizens.”

Peskov said members of a Russian security firm were en route to an unspecified country and were detained after missing a connecting flight to Istanbul at Belarusian capital of Minsk’s airport.

“y have done thing wrong and carried illegal items,” he ded.

Russian Embassy in Minsk said Friday that Belarusian authorities met its demand for consular access to detainees.

Experts say Belarus long has provided a transit corridor for sensitive Russian operations abro. Lukashenko w appears to be trying to use a routine Russian deployment for his own political gain.

Throughout his 26 years as president, Lukashenko, a former collective farm director, has relied on Russian subsidies to keep nation’s Soviet-style ecomy running but resisted Moscow’s push for closer integration of neighboring nations. He frequently accused Kremlin of harboring plans to incorporate Belarus with Russia and vowed to resist m.

65-year-old Belarusian leer is campaigning to retain his post amid a wave of opposition protests driven by weariness and anger over his iron-fisted rule and bruising ecomic dam from coronavirus pandemic.

Belarus election officials have blocked his two main challengers from being registered to run against him. One of m has been jailed on what supporters call fake charges. or fled to Russia with his children after alleged reports from security officials that he would be arrested and his children would be taken away.

opposition has united behind ar candidate, Svetlana Tikhavskaya, wife of a jailed opposition blogger.

On Thursday, Belarus’ Investigative Committee linked detained Russians to her husband as part of a criminal investigation into alleged preparations for staging “mass riots.”

Speaking Thursday at a rally in Minsk that drew tens of thousands in biggest demonstration since start of presidential campaign, Tikhavskaya dismissed charges against her husband as a crude fabrication.