State Dept Official: No Indication of Planned Russian Intervention in Belarus

Says Russian involvement would be 'most unwelcome'

Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun issued a statement Monday saying that the US had not seen any indication to suggest that Russia was planning to intervene in the political crisis in Belarus, comments made after long-time Belarus ruler Lukashenko claimed Russia might do so.

Biegun’s comments came in Lithuania, where he met with other Belarussian politicians, and declared that any Russian involvement would be “most unwelcome.” Belarus is a neighbor of Russia and NATO member Lithuania.

Biegun says that the US position is that Belarus should accept the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe to facilitate the post election dispute, saying that the US will not decide the course of events unilaterally. The OSCE has expressed willingness to discuss the matter.

Despite allegations of Russian involvement, Russian state media has largely dismissed the idea of getting involved, saying Lukashenko’s problems mirror the fall of late-era Soviet officials, and seeming unconcerned by what happens next.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.