Minsk police hold anti-riot exercise ahead of 2024 elections

November 29, Pozirk. Minsk police and other security forces have held a special tactical exercise at the Lipki airfield, the police press office said.

“In the run-up to the 2024 election campaign, we are paying special attention to the theory and practice of protecting public order in emergency situations, and to improving officers’ preparedness for possible threats,” it said.

The exercise was overseen by Interior Minister Ivan Kubrakoŭ.

Police chief Mikhaił Hryb received reports on how officers and public servants should operate in complicated circumstances, such as the upcoming elections. The security forces agreed on “a set of measures to ensure law and order and the safety of citizens in emergency situations, and raised issues that require additional work.”

Officers reported on ongoing “large-scale work” that includes “measures to respond to information operations and attempts to organize illegal pickets, riots, arson, and other destructive activities. Minsk police continue to operate a situation control center around the clock for immediate decision-making,” the press office said.

The exercise showed that the city has enough forces and means to react promptly to any provocative acts, suppress them, and bring the perpetrators to justice, it added.

For the first time, elec­tions for the local coun­cils and the House of Rep­re­sen­ta­tives will be held on the same day, Feb­ru­ary 25, 2024.

The coun­try has not held a sin­gle free and fair elec­tion since 1996 by the stan­dards of the Orga­ni­za­tion for Secu­ri­ty and Coop­er­a­tion in Europe.