However, about 85% of Belarusians oppose the war, so mobilization could lead to new mass protests.
The self-proclaimed President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, can at any time declare mobilization and join Russia's war against Ukraine.
Ex-Minister of Culture of Belarus, opposition politician Pavel Latushko stated this in an interview with the German edition RND.
” The registration of all conscripts in Belarus is almost completed ,” the politician said.
He is convinced that the Belarusian dictator only needs to press a button on orders from the Kremlin to start mobilizing.
Latushko also said that according to his sources in Minsk, almost all employees of the country's Ministry of Internal Affairs were asked to surrender their passports . The same data came from different cities of Belarus.
“This means that these people will no longer be able to leave the territory of Belarus if they are mobilized,” the oppositionist noted.
In the context of mobilization, the politician also emphasized the constant growth of the Russian military presence in Belarus: both manpower and equipment.
Latushko also spoke about the “strategic mistake” of the West, which has been paying no attention to Lukashenka for half a year now: “No new sanctions are being introduced, no pressure is being exerted.” According to the ex-minister, the self-proclaimed president will thus buy time to prepare for participation in the attack on Ukraine from the north.
The publication recalled that in mid-October 2022, Latushko announced a possible attack on Ukraine from Belarus in the spring of 2023 (possibly in March). The politician voiced information that by that time the Russians want to place 120 thousand soldiers in Belarus.
The oppositionist said that Lukashenka wants to try to increase the size of his army from 65 to 100 thousand soldiers by the spring of 2023. At the same time, according to Latushko, about 85% of Belarusians oppose the war , so mobilization can become a trigger for new mass protests.
Possible mobilization in Belarus
Recall that a few days earlier, a video from Belarus appeared on the Web, showing men of draft age being summoned to the military registration and enlistment offices “to clarify their credentials” through an announcement at the station.
It should be noted that back in mid-December 2022, a retired colonel of the British Army, military expert Glen Grant informed that Russia in Belarus was actually carrying out a certain form of mobilization, in which men must be registered with the military, and they are trying in every possible way to prevent them from leaving the country.
In particular, it is known that in November 2022, in the Belarusian city of Baranovichi, the military registration and enlistment office called all those liable for military service for a “scheduled check” of credentials on behalf of Lukashenka.
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