Belarus before mobilization?
Admission to the bus station fuels concern – opposition sees only “a matter of time”
Created: 01/05/2023 13:42
By: Bedrettin Bölükbasi
Autocrats among themselves: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (left) and Moscow ruler Vladimir Putin.
© IMAGO/Pavel Bednyakov
Train station announcements urge Belarusians to report to recruitment offices.
The opposition is almost certain: a mobilization is coming.
Munich/Minsk – The troops of Russia's ruler Vladimir Putin are apparently suffering great losses in the Ukraine war.
Recently, for example, there was a massive blow to an army accommodation in Donetsk.
Reinforcements from ally Belarus could therefore serve as important support for his war of aggression.
There, at bus stations, for example, men were called on by tickers to report to recruitment offices or municipal offices.
The opposition in the authoritarian country ruled by Alexander Lukashenko fears mobilization.
Mobilization in Belarus?
Opposition considers it "very likely"
Belarusian journalist Hanna Liubakova published a video from the Barysaw train station on Twitter.
You can see a message on an electronic board.
"What the hell is that?" asked the journalist and immediately described the content of the announcement.
Accordingly, it says: "All male citizens between the ages of 18 and 60 must report to a recruitment office or local council to clarify their data."
Under the tweet, this led to speculation about Belarus' preparations for entering the war.
The Belarusian opposition shares this assessment.
The start of the mobilization is only a matter of time, said the Belarusian opposition politician Valeriy Sakchashchik, according to the Warsaw-based radio station Euroradio.fm.
In the opposition shadow government, Sakchashchik is responsible for defense and national security.
"Much has already been done to prepare for this," emphasized the opposition minister, adding: "Unfortunately, we have to say that the mobilization will very likely be carried out." For example, Lukashenko's government called in the Mercenary Army "Gardservice" and the Increased combat readiness of special forces: "In the history of Belarus this has never been done before and it's certainly not just for training."
Belarus worried about mobilization: Ukraine ambassador hints at Lukashenko resistance
Some in Ukraine are also sure that Belarus will enter the war.
This includes the Ukrainian ambassador to Belarus, Ihor Kjisim.
At the end of December he told the Ukrainian news portal
European Pravda
that Belarus was preparing for war and that it was no secret.
Referring to the calls on Belarusian men to report to recruitment offices, the diplomat underlined that there is currently no evidence of full mobilization.
However, Minsk still wants everyone to get in touch "to see what resources they can count on".
In addition, Kjisim said: "As long as there are Russian troops in Belarus, the country poses a threat." However, he also indicated that Lukashenko should resist: "Just as Ukraine is not Russia, Belarus is not Russia either."
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Belarus: Military Commissioner Denies Mobilization – “Very Big Effort”
Amidst all the speculation, Belarus keeps denying that there will be a mobilization.
The military commissar of the Wizebsk region, Ruslan Shkodin, recently spoke up.
"Very great efforts" have been made to refute false reports about a possible mobilization, he told the state news agency BelTA.
The "false information" about an alleged mobilization was "backed up" with photos and videos, he emphasized.
Despite all efforts, people continued to wonder whether there would be a mobilization.
Belarusian citizens would even write to him on social media and ask questions, the military commissar said.
The debate about Belarus entering the war continues unabated.
But what speaks for and against a dangerous turn by Lukashenko?
(bb)
