Dmitry Peskov commented on the words of Alexander Lukashenko, who said that in the case threat to Belarus, Russian troops may be deployed in the country.
“No appeal has been filed in this regard,” he said. The Kremlin chairman explained that the deployment of a Russian armed contingent “is only possible after the official dismissal of another country's leadership.” “There are procedures established by law and powers established by law,” he added.
Lukashenko himself assessed the probability of the introduction of Russian troops as extremely low, because Belarus itself has sufficient forces for self-defense. “Apart from the 'territories,' we can put 500,000 people in our arms at the right time in the short term, and that is a force. If that is not enough, all the armed forces of the Russian Federation will be brought in. That will never happen. But if necessary, we will not hesitate, “said Dad.
“Lithuanians must rest and let refugees go to Poland”
Lithuania is being attacked by migrants. The flow of “illegal immigrants” from Belarus has increased 30 times compared to last year! Who are all these people? Of course not the Belarusians. These are people from Africa and the Middle East. Lithuania is a transhipment point for them. The ultimate destination is the rich countries of Western Europe. The Lithuanian authorities blame Lukashenko: allegedly it was the “father” who gave such a “pig” to his neighbors. And Minsk is making a helpless gesture: the country has become impoverished due to sanctions and now has no means of restricting illegal migration flows.
Photo: Lithuanian Border Guard
The Lithuanian government has declared an extreme situation in the country due to the large influx of illegal migrants coming from Belarus. The measure was taken at the initiative of the Lithuanian State Border Guard, which is seeing a daily increase in the number of “illegal immigrants” detained trying to cross the Belarusian-Lithuanian border. The daily “norm” of detainees has already reached one and a half hundred (for comparison, for the whole of 2020, only 81 illegal migrants were detained). In total, according to the latest data, Lithuanian border guards have detained 2,470 poor people since the beginning of the year, trying to break into EU countries with a hook or a fraud. Of course, it is not so much on our Russian scale. But it is a problem for little Lithuania.
All arrivals must be provided with accommodation, food, medical care. While the relevant authorities decide on the question of their future: whether to grant refugee status or to deport – illegal immigrants do not have the right to work. Maintenance of one person in a temporary accommodation center costs the state treasury 20-30 euros per day. There are many women and children among the refugees. There are very young children, there are pregnant women, there are patients with covid. Patients with covid should be treated. They should be as isolated as possible. At best, it takes several months to consider an asylum issue. And that is if all the documents are in order. But after all, many have no proof of identity at all. In summer, people can be accommodated in tents, but what about them when winter comes? Meanwhile, everything points to the fact that newcomers will have to spend the winter on the shores of the Baltic Sea …
The first conflict with the authorities
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The Lithuanian press reports on the first conflicts between migrants and local authorities. The mayor of the region, Ignalina Yustas Rasikas, spoke in the “Good Evening, Lithuania” program on the LNK television channel about the tense situation in the camp of illegal refugees. How tense? According to Lithuanian standards, of course. We wouldn't notice that. The mayor complained that migrants are placing increasing demands: first they demanded the return of mobile phones, then – the lifting of restrictions on outdoor walks. In protest, the illegal immigrants even refused to eat … “Dissatisfaction is growing, say,” the mayor said. – There are more and more demands, which raises our concerns. Today they brought more fences to give them more space for walks … As I understand it, some phones were returned. Others were promised to return in the near future. We gave them more opportunities to go out – we brought barriers. We met these conditions. Somehow they agreed to lunch, but refused breakfast. “
The mayor's concern is understandable, but it is also possible to understand the refugees who turned out to have been removed from their mobile phones, banned from walking and even … women were housed with men. And Muslim women, as it turned out, were not prepared for such a turnaround. By the way, only 50 refugees were received in the Ignalina region. For this amount, the public security service assigned only four guards. “But can 4 last up to 50?” The mayor asks carefully. If serious unrest broke out in the camp, the four guards would clearly fail.
A separate problem is the lack of funds. The government has set aside € 5.85 including VAT to feed one migrant. But no one wants to feed people that kind of money. The current food contracts for migrants will soon expire and no new suppliers can be found. Food riots ahead? If it is not possible to conclude new ones after the expiry of the contracts, then “security will be required”, Rasikas stressed. “You can't solve a problem without conflicts.”
But these are just flowers. The Delfi.lt portal states that in the village of Kapchamestis, Lazdija district, the locals who prepared food for migrants experienced a real shock. The refugees refused to eat the food they cooked, threw it on the ground or poured it in the toilets. And even … they were relieved in thermoses! “They spat in the soul,” says one of the chefs. By the way, the cost of food here was 14 euros per person per day.
23. riots broke out in the migration center in the town of Pabrade in June, border guards had to use tear gas and shoot into the air. By the way, the center is designed for 100 people, now the number of guests is already approaching five hundred. In addition, we had to set up a tent camp for 250 people on the territory of the border bases and equip two hangars for 70 people.
In Kapchyamestis, about a hundred illegal immigrants were placed in school. Young people from Cameroon, Mali and Guinea sleep on mattresses in the gym. It's good that the holidays, but the preschool group had to be closed.
However, if the flow of refugees increases, then the state will not have sufficient “capacity”. Lithuanian State Border Guard Chief Rustam Lyubaev called for preparation for the worst case scenario. In his opinion, there are 40,000 migrants. The same figure was mentioned by the Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte. The container city, the equipment of which is planned in the Lithuanian Svenchensky region, is intended for this number of uninvited guests. It was proposed to allocate 16 hectares of land in the village of Augustavas, near the town of Shvencioneliai. The installation of 219 containers is planned in the settlement of Medininkai (it will cost the Lithuanian budget 4.6 million euros).
But will that solve the problem? What will it be like when refugees accustomed to the hot southern climate overwinter in containers? Especially women and children.
Hybrid Aggressors
No wonder someone is losing their temper. Armed people are driving refugees from Lithuania back to Belarus. On July 19, the Belarusian State Border Committee announced that on July 18 and 19, the Belarusian Border Guard detained a total of 26 Iraqi citizens who had illegally crossed the border from Lithuania. Among them were two children and a pregnant woman. The Iraqis said they were not fed or allowed to drink in the Lithuanian refugee camp. At the same time, officers of the State Border Guard Service under the Lithuanian Ministry of Interior were interrogated and beaten, forcing them to testify about the bribery of Belarusian border guards. After interrogation, the people were brought to the border and under threat of using weapons were forced to move to Belarus. A video is circulating on the Internet in which Lithuanian border guards allegedly shoot at refugees with military weapons.
And where are the human rights that Lithuania has committed itself to when it joins the EU? In Karaganda. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda last week signed amendments to the law on the legal status of foreigners, which significantly restrict the rights of illegal migrants. Refugees now have no right to appeal against decisions of a court of first instance. The time frame for examining asylum applications has also been shortened. Before deciding on his “case”, he must be illegal in a special camp without the right to move freely throughout the country.
The Lithuanian Seimas also adopted a resolution stating that illegal migration is a “hybrid attack” on the country in order to destabilize it. All refugees who have arrived in the country illegally are therefore considered “hybrid aggressors” and are subject to deportation.
Meanwhile, the Lithuanian authorities are hastily building barbed wire on the border with Belarus. But also bad luck here: last Friday the barbed wire, or, as they say here, the “accordion” ended. Neighbors have come to the rescue: Estonia is ready to send 100 kilometers of barbed wire to Lithuania. The issue was resolved during talks between Lithuanian Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite and Estonian Defense Minister (!) Kalle Laaneta. As you wish? It's a war, albeit a hybrid.
Illegal migrants fleeing Belarus to Lithuania were filmed
Watch a video on the subject
In this regard, another Lithuanian neighbor, Latvia, is already calling for NATO assistance. They wait in horror for streams of refugees to plunge into their territory. Latvia also has a border with Belarus. Local patriots are already proposing to involve the NATO army in solving the problem. According to the Baltic Internet publication Baltic Word, such an initiative was created by Janis Dombrava, a member of the Latvian national association Saemas “Everything for Latvia!” He is sure that the Baltic states are not dealing “not with classical migration, but with a real military invasion, because foreign intelligence officers and even military men can enter the country under the guise of refugees.” This is therefore a “NATO issue” and the involvement of Alliance forces is fully justified.
Lukashenko's Revenge
How well-founded are the suspicions that what is happening is Lukashenko's revenge on the EU, and Lithuania in particular? For everything: for sanctions, for supporting the opposition, for Lithuania hosting the former presidential candidate Svetlana Tichanovska? From the territory of Lithuania and with the clear encouragement of the Lithuanian leadership, purposeful work is underway to remove Lukashenko. That is obvious.
– In any case, a country with a large number of potential refugees is “hanging” over the European Union from all sides, – I'm sure Belarusian political scientist Yuri Shevcov . – Until recently, there was no such threat from the East for Lithuania, Latvia and Poland. It was created today. Whatever Lukashenko's motives, the main reason for what is happening is that he has stopped restricting the flow of refugees.
– There were various restrictions. There were a lot of them. They have now been removed. Previously, the whole world knew that Belarus has a very tough police regime and that it would not be possible to pass through to other countries. And now they know what will happen. This whole sector of illegal transfer of people to the EU has reached as far as Belarus.
– About half of them are Iraqi citizens. They fly to Minsk completely legally. And then they go to Lithuania.
– No, the Lithuanians will not let them go. There were two groups of Afghans who tried to move to Poland. But the Poles caught them and returned them to Lithuania. Lithuania turned into a sort of settling tank. The EU did not allow her to let people into Germany, Sweden, France …
– No, they just knew they would not cross the Belarusian-Lithuanian border. That they would be caught, imprisoned and deported. Therefore, they did not arrive in such quantities. And now they know they won't get caught. Lukashenko has publicly explained several times that the whole system is very expensive. As the EU has imposed sanctions on Belarus, it must save. Save money on a refugee detention system. Now Lithuania will have to spend money. It turns out that $ 40 million is needed for barbed wire along the border. The border with Belarus is about 700 km, they only had enough wire for one and a half kilometers.
– In fact, it will be enough for 50 km, because the wire is placed in two rows. Of course, the wire will not stop migrants. This means that it is all very expensive. In fact, the Lithuanian Border Service did not yet exist. As we say, they only guarded their border posts. And Belarus did the rest. Now they have to do everything themselves.
– Yes, it will. The number of flights from Iraq should double from August. And about 60% of refugees in Lithuania identify themselves as Iraqis. They buy tourist tours and fly. In Belarus, they like to relax …
Asymmetric reaction
– Latvia is now in fear and expectation, – said the famous Latvian journalist Yuri Alekseyev … – Because it also has a relatively long border with Belarus. On the border of Latvia with the Russian Federation there are large fences, security, control belt, everything is equipped with EU money. And there is nothing like that on the border with Belarus. This limit is rather arbitrary, it simply does not exist. I often visit those places. After crossing a river or lake or walking through the forest, you can safely get to Belarus and return. Of course, no one is running to Latvia yet – everyone is running to Lithuania. Because everyone wants to get to well-fed Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium … They aspire from Lithuania to Poland; I crossed Poland and now you are in well-nourished countries. Why do they need Latvia? But Latvians are still very concerned.
– I think yes. And what? If Belavia airlines were banned from flying to Europe after the Protasevich incident, what is left? Only to increase the intensity of flights to other destinations – the Middle East, Iraq, Pakistan and so on. It's quite logical. This is a game with the same cards.
– Yes, there are a small number of refugees to be received under the EU quota. A camp was even set up near them for Riga. But they won't stay there long. Because Latvia, like Lithuania, is a hungry country. Here they receive three euros a day per person. They teach Latvian. I need it? They didn't go for it. They went to live on social security in Germany, France, Great Britain … So I think that Lithuanians should relax and, following the example of Belarusians, simply let these refugees go to Poland at night. And the Poles will let them into Germany anyway.
– Because there was no channel through Belarus before. Everyone arrives by air. The Belarusian border guards “received” them directly at the airport. Why don't they do it now? This is an asymmetric response to sanctions against Belarus. On the other hand, it's trolling. I think that Lukashenko is actively “trolling” the European Union and responding to sanctions with the same coin.
Ukrainian journalist Yevgeny Vasilkevich spent several years in a refugee camp in the Netherlands, awaiting political asylum. Its neighbors have always been immigrants from the Middle East, from African countries.
“They smoke weed, they smuggle,” he said. – If cigarettes cost 10 euros in a regular store, then you can buy a package at the camp for 3.50. And marijuana – for 5 euros, although in a cafe – the official drugstore – costs 15. In addition, they steal from shops, engage in prostitution in the camp. People have lived here for three or four years, they cannot have a family or children. In the Netherlands, male prostitution is also flourishing – 15 euros per hour. One hundred people came from Uganda, they said they were all gay, they all got “positives.” And then it turned out that everyone had the same cases. That means they are copies. In fact, they are not homosexuals. Sometimes Arabs are denied a tattoo in the form of a cross when they are denied status: they allegedly changed their faith and are now executed in their homeland … In principle, Europe is simply used to obtain a flat from the state, documents and the right to do business in EU countries tax breaks . And some of them live their whole lives in social care and do nothing. Everyone is lying – they have not a single document or a single piece of evidence of persecution at home. But I had a friend from Iraq – he was a soldier and a gay man. He was held in the camp for 5 years and refused. The lawyer did not want to defend him. I have the impression that only refugees who meet certain predetermined standards have rights here. They only give positive solutions to “theirs” in order to put pressure on other countries. And Lukashenko is great.
The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation has adopted updated rules for the accreditation of journalists for a single election day in 2021. As before, the application for accreditation can be submitted in advance: starting on July 30, 2021. Accreditation will allow journalists to work in the polling station for all three days of voting, as in the case of a re-election or a second round of voting. Journalists who work long-term and seriously in the media will not be affected by innovation – they are people who have a good understanding of their professional responsibilities. So what is changing in 2021?
photo: Natalia Muschinkina
First, nice updates. In 2021, a journalist does not have to apply for accreditation to the regional election commission, he can do so at the TEC. There is no doubt that from the point of view of Moscow journalists there is little difference: where to go & ndash; to the IPCC or to the CEC? To Lubyanka or “ Borovitskaya & # 39; & # 39 ;, all this is one pleasant walk in the center not far from the Kremlin & hellip; It can be difficult for residents of the capital to understand what permission not to go to the regional election commission means for journalists in any of the remote regions of the Russian Federation who spend all day on such a trip – and not one. Almost in line with the hare from the cartoon about Prostokvashin: I ran after him to take photos for half a day and I would run for another half day – & ndash; give a photo. All this lags behind: journalists will now receive all the necessary documents at the local TEC.
Next point & ndash; home voting. Every journalist who worked in the polling station more than once was instructed by his or her own bitter experience: to be present when voting on the spot & ndash; how happy! Sometimes & ndash; depends entirely on the mood of the PEC manager. And you can doubt how much you want & ndash; they say, what is interesting about expressing the will of 90-year-old grandmothers handcuffed in bed ?! & ndash; But professionals know: it's the voting on the spot that gives room for fraud. There would be a desire. And the documented right of journalists to be with him & ndash; This is a serious and important step in realizing that there is really nothing to hide! And for the right to photograph the moment a ballot paper was placed in a secure bag, many media photographers were ready to line up & ndash; and not everyone was allowed to. Now everything is clear.
But, as they say, there is nuance. If the former accreditation for election work was issued for a period of one year, it is now valid only on voting days. & Nbsp; Yes, it looks like a violation of journalists' rights, but let's try to remember it & ndash; when did Single Election Day come earlier than 365 days after the previous one? Extraordinary: EDG-2020 & ndash; September 13, EDG-2019 & ndash; September 8, EDG-2018 & ndash; September 9 & hellip; etc! Each year, the annual accreditation of off-road vehicles expired literally a few days before the next voting day & ndash; and I had to make a new one. Renew accreditation once a year for journalists working permanently at CEC Russia & ndash; a normal ritual, similar to brushing your teeth or changing your passport every 10 years … If another election takes place in the region during the year, then the election commission will easily grant new accreditation to those who actually work in the media. However, in today's unstable world, a lot can happen to a journalist in a year. For example, he can change jobs. It's right to leave with an “ off-road vehicle & # 39; & # 39; a person whose condition could have changed completely and irrevocably? .. Hard! & nbsp;
Well, an important aspect, not for journalists, but for those who consider themselves. Accreditation may be suspended. With everything that means. We don't need to remind experienced journalists about the need to comply with the law & ndash; but it is still relevant. The logical continuation of this requirement – in case of violation of the rules, some sanctions should appear.
Before & ndash; regardless of the behavior of the media representative & nbsp; & ndash; nothing could be done about it. A person could abuse their position to the best of their imagination & ndash; For example, think of yourself as an observer and start writing complaints. And it does not matter that the media representative does not have the right to submit suggestions and comments on the organization of the vote. Now, violating the rules, which, by the way, every journalist agrees to when submitting documents for accreditation, can suspend this accreditation. Figuratively speaking, & ndash; take the time to think.
Please read our laws and & nbsp; do not confuse observers and journalists & ndash; they are different people with different functions. If a journalist wants to announce that he is not satisfied with the organization of the vote – he has a publication from which he is accredited. & nbsp; And he is obliged to inform citizens as objectively as possible. This is what readers and viewers expect from a media representative in the polling station.
At the Ministry of Defense Azerbaijan denied the declaration of the Armenian military forces about the downed drones of Azerbaijan and called it misinformation. This was announced on the department's official telegram channel.
Recall that previously the press service of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces reported that the army had stopped the attempt to disrupt the country's air border by unmanned means.
“The information disseminated by the Armenian side about two unmanned aerial vehicles of the Azerbaijani army allegedly shot down over Basarkechar is completely untrue. We officially refute and declare that this is misinformation, “the report said.
US President Joe Biden said that Washington should work with Russia and China, although Moscow and Beijing are competitors and rivals for America.
facebook.com/joebiden
The White House leader stressed that the world is changing rapidly, so it is important for Washington that the United States work closely with partners and allies to maintain technological advantages, strengthen the supply chain, and enforce rules governing technology to support democracy, not autocracy.
“At the same time, we must work with countries such as China and Russia, which are rivals, possibly deadly rivals in the future,” Biden TASS was quoted as saying. At the same time, Biden identified areas where the interests of the United States, Russia and China coincide. This is especially the problem of climate change – a threat that, according to him, affects all countries.
The US president used to call “problems” that Russian President Vladimir Putin has. According to Biden, the main challenge for the Kremlin is the problems in the economy, which is based on two “dubious whales” – oil and nuclear weapons.
The politician added that in his opinion Putin is aware of his “unpleasant situation”, which makes the Russian leader even more dangerous.
Russian and Chinese space activities pose a threat to security Great Britain. This was stated by Chief of Staff of the British Air Force Michael Wigston in an interview with The Telegraph.
He claims that Moscow and Beijing are allegedly conducting “dubious operations” in space. In particular, they engage in various “dangerous activities” on a daily basis, which can lead to the destruction of other countries' satellites.
According to him, Russia has also placed several satellites that have “characteristic weapons” in the last year. Wigston pointed out that previously Chinese specialists had conducted appropriate tests on their obsolete satellites.
Experts are skeptical about the possibility for the US to stop implementation project of the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, despite desperate attempts by a group of US Republican senators to press the White House by blocking the appointment to the Treasury Department unless President Biden's administration imposes new sanctions against SP-2.
For example, Michael Brenner, a professor of international relations at the University of Pittsburgh, said that “ Congress may be as raging as you want & # 39; & # 39 ;, but no US action can stop the completion of the pipeline.
In his view, US action is not only due to a desire to weaken Russia, but also to “ push through` expensive American liquefied natural gas to Europe by pressure and blackmail.
State Duma Representative Peter Tolstoy described Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenský as a showman who is not interested in the problems of Ukrainians. He therefore praised the signature of the Ukrainian leader of the law on the creation of a system of “national resistance” in the country and increase the number of armed forces of Ukraine.
“The Ukrainian authorities continue the tactic of pumping society through military rhetoric. This time with the help of “national resistance” And it is true, what else, in addition to increasing the size of the armed forces, should be involved a state that is in the stage of half-life in? “- wrote on his channel Telegram.
In his opinion, Zelensky is a showman whose priorities do not include caring for the citizens of Ukraine.
” Settlement in Donbas, economic recovery, fight against the Nazis and care about their own people were not and will not be a priority for Zelenský. The showman remains true to himself, playing the role entrusted to him. Ordinary people of Ukraine pay for their performance, “the deputy added.
Former Belarusian presidential candidate Svetlana Tichanovskaya, who attended a reception at the White House, answered CNN's question if she would negotiate with US President Joe Biden about Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
“We are focusing on Belarus,” she said.
Asked if the meeting was a signal to Vladimir Putin, Tikhanskaya noted that it was “a clear signal to the Belarusian people and supporters of the regime.”
Engineer and businessman Elon Musk commented on the chapter's report ” Roskosmos “Dmitry Rogozin on the successful delivery of the Russian module” Science “to the ISS.
“Congratulations!”, he told the experts of the Center for Mission Control near Moscow that the engines of the Nauka Module were switched on unplanned.
The Science module waited 14 years for revision on Earth and spent eight days in orbit before another Russian ISS “Zvezda” module automatically connected to the docking station.
