Russia wants to drag Belarus into a war against Ukraine in order to fill its personnel shortages, ‘dispose’ of the Belarusian army and absorb Belarus, Mykhailo Podolak of the Ukrainian presidential office assessed on Wednesday.
“It is important to realise that behind the attempts to drag Belarus into the war is not only that Moscow wants to make up the deficit in its military capabilities. What Russia needs is the disposal of the Belarusian army and the loss of the Lukashenko regime’s hold on power,” Podolak wrote on Twitter.
Потрібно розуміти, що за спробами втягнення Білорусі у війну стоїть не лише бажання Москви покрити дефіцит своєї військової спроможності. Росії потрібна утилізація білоруської армії та втрата опори влади режимом Лукашенка. Далі – поглинання РБ та окупація російськими z-zомбі.
— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) July 13, 2022
“Next will be the absorption of Belarus and occupation by Russian z-zombies,” he added.
The letter ‘Z’ symbolises in Russia the war against Ukraine. The Kremlin describes the invasion as a “special military operation”.
Belsat journalist sentenced to 8 years in prison
Belsat journalist Katsyaryna Andreeva has been sentenced to eight years in prison by a Belarusian court, Belsat reported. The trial was held behind closed doors.
On 18 February 2021, Katsyaryna Andreeva and Darya Chultsova were sentenced to two years in prison for conducting online coverage of the November 2020 protest.
Both reporters were declared prisoners of conscience.
On 5 September this year, Andreeva, 28, who had been behind bars continuously since her arrest, should have been released.
The new trial, which like the first one was political, was about ‘treason against the state.’ As Belsat writes, it is unclear what this ‘betrayal of the state’ consisted of.
‼ PILNE ‼
Nasza koleżanka, dziennikarka Kaciaryna Andrejewa, została skazana przez reżimowy sąd w Homlu na kolejne 8 lat więzienia – teraz za „zdradę państwa”. Proces odbył się za zamkniętymi drzwiami pic.twitter.com/wkXINxAM7A
— Biełsat (@Bielsat_pl) July 13, 2022