Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said the number of people’s militias in the republic could reach 150,000 people. He therefore commented on the publication “SB. Belarus Today” review of the draft law “On People’s Militia” by members of the country’s Security Council.
We have made calculations, the number will be 100-150 thousand people throughout Belarus, who may be involved. But they are volunteers, there may be more.
– said the lieutenant general.
According to him, the structures of the people’s militia, whose purpose will be to ensure public order with the police, will be more necessary in rural areas. At the same time, Khrenin allowed their creation in large cities – decisions about the people’s militia could be made by local authorities.
Perhaps in Minsk it will not be necessary to create a people’s militia. We have seen that the greatest demand is in rural areas, where there may only be one district police officer for several village councils
noted the Minister.
The draft law was developed jointly by experts from the Ministry of Defense of the Republic and the Ministry of Interior. According to Khrenin, the need to create a people’s militia has been confirmed by events in Ukraine, it will become an addition to the system guaranteeing the defense capability of Belarus.
The general pointed out that during the period of martial law, people would be needed who “will help to maintain order with the local authorities”. In Minsk, they do not exclude the activity of saboteurs, endemic crime and looting in such a situation.
Earlier, Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said that after democratic reforms Belarus will withdraw from the Union State and the CSTO. After February 2022, there are no more prospects for partnership with Russia, she stressed at a security conference in Munich. On whose behalf Tikhanovskaya spoke is not entirely clear.
