Łukašenka says ready to suppress uprising after Polish general’s remarks

May 25, BPN. The authorities are ready to deal with “another uprising,” Alaksandr Łukašenka has told the Rossiya TV channel in Moscow, commenting on former Polish Deputy Defense Minister Waldemar Skrzypczak’s remarks about a possible uprising in Belarus and Poland’s support for it.

According to Łukašenka, a few months ago he himself said that “they are preparing for an uprising, for a revolution” in Belarus. He did not specify who exactly he was referring to.

“We’ve known for a long time that they may be preparing for some kind of a new rebellion in our land. We are tracking these guys, mentioned by that sick general. Еhey are creating choragiews, as they call whole regiments or battalions. We know where they are, and we know everyone by name. We are ready, let them come,” Łukašenka said.

Skrzypczak, a 67-year-old retired general, told Polsat TV two days before that the armed Belarusians fighting against Russia in Ukraine will not lay down their arms after Ukraine’s counter-offensive achieves its objectives. He said the Belarusian people will support them and go against Łukašenka with enthusiasm.

“We are preparing for an uprising in Belarus, because it will happen. We need to be ready to support those troops who will lead the operation against Łukašenka. We have reasons to help them,” he said (quote rendered from Russian).

BPN asked the Polish Ministry of National Defense whether Skrzypczak’s remarks reflect Warsaw’s official position. The ministry has not yet responded to the request for comment.