MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has instructed the military command to take "the most stringent measures" to protect the territorial integrity of the republic in light of mass anti-government protests.
The head of state gave such an order during a visit to a military training ground near the city of Grodno.
Lukashenko in particular instructed the defence minister and the head of the Western Operational Command to make every effort to "protect, first of all, the western pearl of Belarus with its centre in Grodno", as quoted by the state-run news agency Belta.
According to the president, the events in Belarus are occurring in line with a colour revolution scenario.
"The originality and peculiarity of the situation lies in the fact that an external factor is involved, which is not always the case", Lukashenko added.
Lukashenko also accused Western nations of direct interfering in the situation in the country, saying there were attempts to get the Belarusian authorities into negotiations with the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on the current situation.
"It is about financing, getting us into talks with the OSCE — it is clear why they do this", Lukashenko added.
In addition, the Belarusian leader said that NATO countries provided military support for the destabilisation of the situation in Belarus.
"Military support is evident — the movement of NATO troops to the borders. They are all moving toward getting a supposedly new president here. He appeals to Western states, in this case, NATO, to protect the population. They send troops - and you can put an end to Belarus", Lukashenko added.
