Arrested Through Joint Special Operation with Belarus
FSB: "Simulated Forces Met Senior Officials to Plan President's Removal"
Protests Continue Against Belarus Presidential Election Fraud
Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Russian and Belarusian security authorities have announced the arrest of two Belarusians who conspired to carry out a military coup and overthrow President Aleksandr Lukashenko in Belarus.
On the 17th (local time), according to TASS news agency and others, the press office of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) stated in a press release that "the security service, in cooperation with the Belarusian State Security Committee (KGB), blocked the illegal activities of Yuri Yankovich, who holds dual Belarusian and American citizenship, and Aleksandr Feduta, a Belarusian national, through a special operation."
The press office explained, "They planned a military coup and the removal of President Lukashenko by mobilizing Belarusian and Ukrainian nationalists under a 'color revolution' (regime change revolution) scenario."
According to the FSB, the coup plotters were arrested while meeting with opposition-leaning Belarusian generals at a restaurant in Moscow after consultations with officials from the United States and Poland.
During this meeting, the two conspirators reportedly detailed the coup plan to the generals and insisted that the entire Belarusian leadership must be removed to carry it out. They are said to have proposed May 9, the Victory Day commemorating the end of World War II, as the date for the coup.
The FSB reported that the suspects were arrested by Russian intelligence agencies and handed over to Belarusian authorities, who are investigating them on charges of "plotting to seize power."
President Lukashenko also revealed to domestic media on the same day that the group attempting to assassinate him and his family had been arrested, claiming, "It appears they are connected to American intelligence agencies." Lukashenko added, "Their goal was to assassinate me and then execute riots and a military coup."
The announcement of the arrest of coup plotters by Russian and Belarusian authorities came amid ongoing protests by citizens in Belarus over allegations of election fraud in last year's presidential election.
In Belarus, following the August presidential election last year in which President Lukashenko, who has been in power for nearly 30 years, reportedly won with over 80% of the vote, opposition protests against alleged election fraud and vote-rigging by the regime have continued for several months.
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