DISINFO: Poland and Lithuania send Belarusian opposition instructions on how to make explosives
SUMMARY
Many forces in the West want the tense situation in Belarus to continue taking place. Not only money is transferred to Belarus from Warsaw and Vilnius, but also instructions on how to make incendiary mixtures and explosives, such as Molotov cocktails. Unfortunately, the opposition, which is currently operating from Warsaw and Vilnius, does not want any dialogue – it has no constructive political programme apart from overthrowing President Lukashenka and the organisation of new Presidential elections.
RESPONSE
A recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Western attempts to organise a colour revolution in Belarus and to disrupt Belarusian-Russian relations.
The claims that Poland and Lithuania are trying to “organise a colour revolution in Belarus” or that they “send instructions to Belarus on how to make explosives” is a conspiracy theory. Lithuania and Poland are neighbours of Belarus and continue to support the Belarusian people. Poland and Lithuania respect the principles of international law and do not intervene in the domestic affairs of other countries.
The Belarusian society continues demanding free and democratic elections – the representatives of the Belarusian opposition have repeatedly stated that they are open to real political dialogue with the authorities. The European Union stated that the elections were neither free nor fair and on 2 October 2020, imposed restrictive measures against 40 individuals identified as responsible for repression and intimidation against peaceful demonstrators, opposition members and journalists in the wake of the 2020 presidential election in Belarus, as well as for misconduct of the electoral process. On 6 November 2020, the EU added Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko and his son Viktor to its sanctions blacklist of Belarus officials, bringing the total to 59. The 15 added also include KGB secret police chief Ivan Tertel and President Lukashenko's chief of staff Igor Sergeenko.
See other examples of similar messages: The West supports a bloody post-election Maidan scenario in Belarus; The West wants to prepare Maidan in Belarus and Poland presented a plan of active interference in the domestic affairs of Belarus.