Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko assisted Russian President Vladimir Putin in preventing suspected gunmen from entering Belarus after they fled from the scene of the deadly Moscow concert hall attack. Four suspects were detained by Russian law enforcement agents in the Bryansk region, and Russian officials claimed they were caught driving towards Ukraine. However, Lukashenko suggested that the suspects initially tried to enter Belarus, where they were met by heightened security measures, causing them to change course towards the Ukrainian-Russian border.
During a phone call with Putin, Lukashenko claimed that the Russian leader asked for help in closing the Russian-Belarusian border to prevent the suspects’ entry. Lukashenko agreed to assist and recounted the details of the conversation to address critics who claimed Putin took too long to address the public after the attack on Crocus City Hall. He defended Putin’s actions, stating that both leaders had been up for 24 hours and when Putin needed to make a public statement, he did so promptly.
Russian security officials accused Ukraine and the West of being partly responsible for the concert hall attack, where camouflaged gunmen killed at least 139 people and injured many more. The Islamic State’s affiliate ISIS-K claimed responsibility for the attack, which is the deadliest in Russia since the 2003 Beslan school siege. Social media channels linked to the militant group have shared graphic videos of the gunmen committing the mass killing at Crocus City Hall.
Lukashenko’s statement contradicted Moscow’s claims that the suspects were headed towards Ukraine and not Belarus. He explained that the suspects attempted to cross into Belarus but were deterred by increased security measures, leading them to change their route. Lukashenko’s cooperation with Putin to prevent the suspects from entering Belarus highlights the close relationship between the two neighboring countries and their joint efforts to combat security threats.
Critics had accused Putin of taking too long to address the public after the attack, but Lukashenko defended him, stating that both leaders had been actively involved in handling the situation. Lukashenko’s disclosure of his conversation with Putin sheds light on the behind-the-scenes coordination between Belarus and Russia in responding to security challenges. The involvement of Belarus in preventing the suspects from entering the country showcases the importance of regional cooperation in combating cross-border threats.
Overall, Lukashenko’s assistance to Putin in preventing suspected gunmen from entering Belarus underscores the need for close cooperation between neighboring countries in addressing security threats. The differing accounts of the suspects’ movements between Russia and Belarus highlight the complexities of dealing with transnational security incidents. The joint efforts of Belarus and Russia in responding to the concert hall attack demonstrate their commitment to working together to ensure the safety and security of their respective populations.
