Opposition’s defense rep renounces Russian nationality

September 22, BPN. The opposition’s transition cabinet says its defense and national security representative Valer Sachaščyk has initiated a process to give up Russian nationality.

“I would like to emphasize once again that I condemn Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. I wish the Ukrainian people a speedy victory. Glory to Ukraine! Long live Belarus!” Sachaščyk said in a Telegram video.

The public learned that the Belarusian military man had two nationalities on September 13, when a photo of his Russian passport, supposedly found during a police search, surfaced on the Internet.

Sachaščyk told Belarusian journalists that he had received the passport automatically during the USSR break-up, since at that time he had served under the Russian jurisdiction.

In a separate development, Alaksandr Łukašenka deprived Sachaščyk of the lieutenant colonel rank on September 19.