DISINFO: The Belarusian opposition is planning to take over part of Belarus with NATO assistance
SUMMARY
The Belarusian opposition plans to take over parts of the country and introduce NATO troops there. First, they will take over a piece of territory and announce new power. Then, everyone will recognize this power, and the new authorities will appeal to NATO to introduce the troops. It is not a bluff – they have such plans. The opposition is planning to take over the towns of Kobryn and Malorita in the Brest region.
RESPONSE
This message is a part of the Kremlin’s widespread disinformation narratives about 1) a militaristic anti-Russian NATO, ready to attack Belarus and overthrow Lukashenka and 2) smearing any opposition to Lukashenka.
The claim that the Belarusian opposition is planning to change the country’s borders is baseless. After the violent crackdown of the 2020 protests by Lukashenka, tens of thousands of Belarusians moved to Poland in order to avoid repressions. The claim that Belarusian opposition groups and associations operating in Poland are planning a military attack on Belarus is unfounded.
Belarusian citizens, forced to flee their country due to Lukashenka's repressions, advocate their political agenda through peaceful means, such as establishing NGOs, public associations, organizing peaceful protests, etc. Poland is often accused by Belarusian authorities of harbouring territorial ambitions, an accusation that appears to be a deliberate attempt to shift attention away from Minsk's complicity in allowing Belarusian territory to be used for Russian aggression against Ukraine - see our in-depth analysis here.
See other examples of similar messages: Poland and Lithuania directly sponsor extremist actions against Belarus, Poland and Lithuania send Belarusian opposition instructions on how to make explosives and CIA, and Pentagon prepares Belarusian protestors in Poland, Ukraine and the Baltic states.