Belarusian opposition staged a protest against Zapad-2017 military exercises
An unauthorized rally of the group "For a Peaceful Belarus" was held in Minsk, protesting the Russia-Belarus joint military exercises Zapad 2017, as reported on the tut.by website.
More than 100 people took part in the rally, including opposition politicians and activists. After it ended, those present on the square adopted a resolution. In particular, the protesters opposed the idea of Belarus being “drawn into a confrontation” between Russia and Ukraine.
The exercises will be held at training areas in Belarus, as well as in the Kaliningrad, Leningrad, and Pskov regions of the Russian Federation from September 14th to September 20th. They will be headed by the chiefs of the general staff of the armed forces of Russia and the Republic of Belarus.
The main goal is to work on the preparation and use of force in the interests of ensuring the military security of the Union State. The exercises will be the final stage in the joint preparation of the armed forces of the two countries. The event is held every two years.
12,700 servicemen (5,500 from the Russian Armed Forces, 7,200 from Belarus), 70 aircraft and helicopters, 250 tanks, 10 ships, and about 200 artillery guns, multiple rocket launchers and mortars will be involved in the exercises.