Lukashenko criticizes countries asking Belarus to expel Wagner

President Lukashenko said that the demand of Poland and the Baltic countries to expel Wagner forces from Belarus is "baseless and stupid".

"As long as foreign troops are stationed in Poland and the Baltic states, their objections to Wagner's presence in Belarus are unjustified," President Alexander Lukashenko said on August 31. "They themselves are increasing the military budget and sending large forces to our borders."

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko speaks during a meeting with foreign media at his residence in the capital Minsk on July 6. Photo: AFP — Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko speaks during a meeting with foreign media at his residence in the capital Minsk on July 6. Photo: *AFP*

Lukashenko's statement came after Poland and the Baltic states, including Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, on August 28 demanded that Belarus expel Wagner forces, warning that they would close their borders if "serious incidents" involving Russian mercenaries occurred.

"They are creating hysteria about the presence of Wagner members on our territory, to the point of demanding the immediate expulsion of Wagner from Belarus. These are baseless and stupid demands. Poland and the Baltic states have no right to complain about Wagner being in Belarus," Lukashenko added.

President Lukashenko brokered a deal to end the Wagner rebellion in Russia on June 24. Thousands of Wagner members then moved to Belarus with tycoon Yevgeny Prigozhin.

After arriving in Belarus, Wagner forces participated in a number of training and exercises with the country's military. Poland and neighboring countries consider Wagner's presence in Belarus a security threat and have sent forces to the border with Belarus to respond.

Mr Lukashenko said Wagner members would continue to arrive in the country, bringing the total number of fighters here to 10,000. According to him, the Belarusian army would benefit from being trained by Wagner's combat-tested fighters.

It is unclear whether Wagner militants will continue to have a long-term presence in Belarus, after tycoon Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash in Russia on August 23.

The European Union (EU) has accused Belarus of creating a migrant crisis at its borders by allowing thousands of migrants from the Middle East, Africa and Asia to enter Poland. The EU said this was a retaliation for Western sanctions against Belarus, but Minsk denied this.

Huyen Le (According to Reuters , BBN )

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