Opinions & Interviews

Putin: Imposing decisions on Belarusian people from outside is unacceptable

Vladimir Putin. Photo courtesy of TASS

MINSK, 10 November (BelTA) – Imposing decisions on the Belarusian people from outside is unacceptable, Russian President Vladimir Putin said as he opened a videoconference meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on 10 November, BelTA has learned.

"We consider it unacceptable for anyone from outside to impose any decisions on the Belarusian people. We need to let the Belarusian people to calmly sort things out and make the necessary decisions themselves," Vladimir Putin said.

The same applies to the recent events in Kyrgyzstan and the unfolding political struggle in Moldova, the Russian president noted.

The Russian president believes that the increased attempts of direct interference from outside in the internal affairs of the states participating in the SCO are a "blatant challenge to common security."

“It is a gross violation of sovereignty, a desire to divide society, to change the direction of the state's development, to break the political, economic and humanitarian ties that have developed for centuries. Belarus, which has an observer status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, also came under such an attack of external forces," Vladimir Putin said. After the presidential election, "Belarusian friends have been experiencing unprecedented pressure, resisting the sanctions and provocations, the information and propaganda war unleashed against them," the Russian leader said.

The SCO has eight member states (India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan). Four states have observer status (Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, Mongolia). There are six dialogue partner countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkey).

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