BNR Rada: Łukašenka lacked legitimacy to sign security guarantees deal with Russia
December 9, Pozirk. The approval of the security guarantees deal by Alaksandar Łukašenka and Russian President Vladimir Putin three days ago fixes Belarus “in the orbit of Moscow’s military interests,” said the Rada of the Belarusian National Republic (BNR).
Signed on the 25th anniversary of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, the deal advances the “creeping annexation of Belarus by Russia, depriving the country of more and more elements of statehood,” the BNR Rada noted.
“This treaty obliges Belarus to support Russia, including by military means, both with equipment and lives of military personnel from Belarus,” it said. Minsk will have to send Belarusian soldiers as cannon fodder to all places where Moscow commits aggression, even in case of Łukašenka’s death or his removal from power, the statement noted.
Belarusians are forced to pay a high price “for Łukašenka’s desire to hold on to power with the help of Moscow,” the Rada said, noting that the presence of Russian nukes in Belarus automatically turns the country into a target, especially as the deal contains provisions for their use.
Łukašenka lacked legitimacy to approve the Union State in 1999, following his assault on the Belarusian Constitution in 1995 and 1996, and is also “not recognized by the majority of the Belarusian people and democratic states” as Belarus’ legitimate ruler after the contested 2020 election, it said.
Therefore, he “has no legal right to sign any documents on behalf of the Belarusian state,” which will make such agreements not binding for the future democratic Belarus as they will require revision or abrogation, the Rada noted.
The BNR Rada was formed in 1918 shortly before Belarus briefly declared independence from Russia during World War I and is now based in Canada. It is considered Belarus’ oldest government in exile.
Putin, Łukašenka sign agreement on security guarantees
The live coverage has ended. December 6 (21:53), Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka and Russian President Vladimir Putin have signed an interstate treaty on security guarantees, a Union State security concept, a document on the abolition of roaming from March 1 and …