Since the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, there has been speculation that Belarus might join the war. Dictator Lukashenko repeatedly rejects such plans. But now he wants to put a gun in the hands of tens of thousands of civilians - and speaks of a possible partisan movement.
A year after the start of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko is aiming to arm civilians in his country. The dictator in Minsk submitted the draft law "On People's Militia" to the Security Council. Lukashenko referred to "an effective defense system" based on the armed forces and the interior ministry. "But the situation is not easy," said the 68-year-old at a Security Council meeting. "I've said several times: Every man - and not just men - should be able to handle weapons. At least to be able to protect his family, his home, his homeland if necessary."
The idea of arming parts of the population is not new. Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Chrenin announced in May last year that Lukashenko had commissioned him to set up a "people's militia". Now the time has apparently come. The draft law has to be approved by the Security Council and passed by the "All-Belarusian People's Assembly" - a body of activists loyal to the regime. But given Lukashenko's unrestricted rule, that's a mere formality.
The main task of the "people's militia" should primarily be to protect their residential areas "during the state of war" and to ensure law and order together with the police, Chrenin said in Minsk, according to the state news agency Belta. According to Chrenin, the need for the "people's militia" results from "giving our citizens, who will not be affected by the mobilization measures, the opportunity to take part in the defense of the country". The Belarusian government repeatedly claims that Ukraine and the EU states plan to attack Belarus. There is no evidence for this.
The authorities assume that between 100,000 and 150,000 people would join the "people's militia". However, according to Belta, the Ministry of Defense does not rule out that there could be more volunteers. "First and foremost, these are people who are already trained and know how to use weapons. But we do not rule out that people who have no military training, including women, are also called up as volunteers," said the Secretary of Defense.
According to Chrenin, a training program is planned for people without military experience. "We are able to train people in a short period of time. Both when the people's militia is established and before it is established in peacetime," the defense minister said.
"People should learn how to use weapons, there's nothing wrong with that," said Lukashenko, who is closely allied with Russian President Valdimir Putin. In the event of war, the people's militia units could be transformed into a partisan movement, he added.
Since the beginning of the war in February 2022, Lukashenko has provided the Russian armed forces with Belarusian territory and infrastructure for attacks on Ukraine. Despite speculation about a possible entry into the war, the Belarusian armed forces have so far not taken part directly in combat operations in the southern neighboring country.
