Lukashenka: We Need To Close Border With Ukraine

The dictator has decided to increase the number of border guards.

An increase in the number of border service officers is under consideration in Belarus.

“The border service should work effectively. If it needs more personnel, we will go ahead with it but we shouldn't inflate the numbers without thinking,” Aliaksandr Lukashenka said as he met with State Secretary of the Security Council Stanislau Zas and Chairman of the State Border Committee Anatol Lapo on Monday.

The state agency BelTA quotes the ruler:

“We will do it in any place we consider necessary. We have taken the decision to reinforce the border with Ukraine. We see how much trouble for Belarus comes from that direction, I am speaking about weapons as well. We should close the border. But not for the decent respectable people – for the bandits, those who deliver arms,” Lukashenka said.

Lukashenka reminded about the recent case when a man was arrested with a whole arsenal of weapons: “Machine guns, a dozen assault rifles, two dozen rifles, ten thousand cartridges and so on, and so on.”

“Where did it all come from? We checked, nothing was missing in our army. So, it was brought here. That is why we took the decision to close the border with Ukraine. If numbers are needed there, let it be so. Let’s see. But not big numbers, I mean – a hundred somewhere, a thousand someplace, and maybe just one soldier somewhere, wherever needed. No bosses. We can do with as few bosses as possible,” he added.

“Today's question is rooted in the analysis we had back then. Back then among other things we talked about some modernization of the border guard. We talked about adjustments of its strength and the deployment of new border guard stations because we now have to secure the Ukrainian border properly. And we need to more effectively work in other areas,” noted the Belarusian leader.