Putin Says He Has Reserve Officers Ready to Send to Belarus
Vladimir Putin says he has formed a reserve of law enforcement officers to send to Belarus to help president Alexander Lukashenko if necessary, Russian media reported on Thursday.
Putin said he will not deploy these forces unless “extremist elements in Belarus cross a line and start plundering.”
Speaking to the state-run Rossia 1 broadcaster, he said the law enforcement agents would be on standby in case pro-democracy protests strengthened.