After Lukashenko’s regime ends, opposition will have every right to request deployment of NATO peacekeeping forces in Belarus – diplomat Sannikov

Belarusian oppositionist and ex-Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus Andrei Sannikov stated this on Espreso.

"Will Putin enter Belarus, or will he attempt to install a puppet leader? It is quite possible, and it necessitates a response not only from us but from the Western world as well. We would be justified in demanding the deployment of peacekeeping forces, including NATO, to ensure stability. If Moscow or its assistance leads to the illegal seizure of power by security forces, it would be reminiscent of the occupation of Crimea," he expressed.

Sannikov asserts that this potential annexation must be strongly prevented against and met with a firm response, with the West possessing all the necessary means to do so.

"We are currently contemplating our actions in such a scenario. Our compatriots are bravely volunteering in Ukraine, fighting for the freedom of Belarus. We now witness the emergence of an armed opposition wing. We cannot allow the Ukrainian scenario to unfold in Belarus, as it would pose a threat of a larger-scale war, particularly affecting Ukraine with severe consequences. It was Lukashenko's establishment of a bridgehead that enabled Putin's offensive in February 2022," the diplomat concluded.