Belarus refuses to deploy Russian air base in its territory

Minsk will not deploy the Russian air base in its territory so far, Andrei Ravkov, Defense Minister of Belarus, told the Public Television today, on October 22.

“There is no point in deploying the air base in the territory of Belarus so far,” Ravkov said.

When commenting on the issue of Russia’s airbase in Belarus earlier on October 6, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said the issue had never been discussed. Later on October 11 he reiterated that he had not discussed the establishment of the air base in Belarus with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I spear, I didn’t discuss. This information was probably leaked to mass media from the government’s meeting for some unknown reason. Together with Vladmir Putin we will discuss this problem,” Lukashenko said and promised to “fight to the bitter end” for Russia without any bases.

EADaily reported earlier that Russian Defense Minister, Army General Sergey Shoygu addressed issues related to cooperative security while speaking at a joint meeting of the Defense Ministries of Russia and Belarus in Moscow, but the issue of air base was not discussed publicly. In particular, Shoygu said that the two countries plan to sign an agreement on exchange of information in up-to-date technologies and solutions. He said the plan of cooperation 2016 between the two ministries of defense comprises more than 120 events. It was announced at the meeting that in 2017 Russia and Belarus will conduct strategic exercises “West.”