Mikalai Statkevich: It's Every Man's Duty Today - To Defend Belarus

It has already been said publicly about the threat from the Russian Federation, the time has come to act.

The leader of the Belarusian opposition and a former candidate for presidential elections – 2010 Mikalai Statkevich said this to charter97.org, commenting on the information that the Russian Ministry of Defense is preparing four thousands rail cars for transportation of Russian troops to Belarus and on the discussion of the news by some "experts":

– I am sure that what the Russian Ministry of Defense is planning, is not military exercise. I know the amount of troops and military equipment that Russia usually sends for the military exercises of the "West" type. Four thousand rail cars for such exercises - it's too much.

It's possible, that this is all about the dormant deployment land military base on a permanent basis. Maybe the leaders of the two states have already agreed on this.

I would also like to respond to some homegrown "military experts", who say that 4000 rail cars can not be treated as aggression and are insufficient for the transportation of the army. They claim that this number of cars is enough just to deliver a Russian division to Belarus. A division? Given the mood of Lukashenka's command, a battalion will be enough for the occupation. How many "green men" were there in Crimea? Far from 4 thousand rail cars. I think there were troop for a dozen cars, no more. Because the betrayal was prepared from the inside.

This figure of 4000 cars and plans of the Russian Defense Ministry are very alarming. I see this as a serious threat. And the duty of a man, when he sees a danger to his country – first, to say loudly about it, to call it by its name. Secondly, to declare his readiness to confront this threat. And thirdly, if the threat is real – to physically oppose it.

Let us remind, that the Rada of the Belarusian National Congress will hold a meeting on December 7 to develop a plan of civil confrontation to the possible aggression from the Russian Federation. They also plan to send the plan to the Ministry of Defence of Belarus.