Russia and Belarus at odds after Minsk detained 30 men suspected mercenaries

After Belarus detained at least 30 men who it accused as ‘Russian mercenaries’ amid  presidential election campaign, bilateral relations between Moscow and Minsk worsened on August 1 on matter. Russian officials denied accusations against it by Belarus as two sides locked in disagreement, according to reports. dispute between two countries deepened after Russia said that men arrested in Belarus who it said were  employees of a private security firm h a connecting flight to Istanbul and were staying in Belarus. President Alexander Lukashenko, in response, rejected that ory. 

Having heard statements by Russia’s he of state security and investigation committee, President Alexander Lukashenko expressed objection, saying, “it was clear that group h ar goal. It is task of investigation to find out about those goals." Furr, he ded, re h been argument with Russia regarding issue and that Belarus was rey to cooperate.  

Hope  incident would be resolved in interest of brorly relations between countries, he of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergei Naryshkin, was quoted as saying by state news media ncy.

However, on July 30, Russia demanded that Belarus must release 33 Russian private security contractors that it h detained on terrorism charges, contricting plot, as per a report. This led to an unprecedented escalation of tensions as Russia called arrests me by Belarusian State Security Committee, kwn by its Soviet-era name KGB, as authoritarian leer’s stunt who was seeking a sixth term in upcoming elections next month.  

re is information about any wrongdoing of Russians that may have caused detention—Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

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Accusations were 'unfounded'

Furr, Kremlin spokesman Peskov denied allegations about Russia’s involvement in efforts to destabilize Belarus as “thing but innuendo.” Summoned by Belarusian Foreign Ministry, Russian Ambassor Dmitry Mezentsev said that accusations were “unfounded”. Mezentsev demanded immediate consular access to detainees and proof of Russia’s involvement.  According to reports,  Wagner company which is alleged to have been involved is owned by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a Russian businessman accused of United States for meddling in 2016 US presidential election that concerned Belarus. In ar report, authorities in Minsk said that y believe husband of opposition presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhauskaya may have ties to group

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(Im Credit: AP) (With AP Inputs)