Belarus reopens to compliance verification inspections under arms control treaties

June 20, BPN. Belarus has notified the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) about resumption of verification activities within existing international arms control treaties, defense ministry’s press office reported.

It noted that decisions on foreign inspections in Belarus would be made on a parity basis.

Belarus is a party to the OSCE Vienna Document 2011 on confidence- and security-building measures, regulating the exchange of information on armed forces, weapons and equipment, defense planning and military expenditures, as well as inspections and visits to the military units.

On February 24, Russia started what it called a special military operation in Ukraine. Authorities in Minsk deny Belarusian army troops’ involvement in combat operations on the Russian side. However, Aliaksandr Lukašenka admitted in the May 5 interview with AP that Russian troops had entered Ukraine from Belarusian territory. He also admitted that Russian troops had fired missiles at Ukraine from Belarus.