Belarus police show readiness before crucial January vote
Belarus law enforcement starts nationwide training operations two months before presidential election. Interior ministry aims to maintain strict control during upcoming political event
In a show of force Belarus police started large-scale anti-riot exercises this week; the timing is linked to the upcoming Jan-2025 presidential race. Alexander Lukashenko – whos been in power since mid-90s – plans to keep his position for a seventh time
The nation-wide training program (designed to demonstrate police readiness) focuses on blocking any form of public dissent. Ivan Kubrakov the Interior Minister laid-out the main goals: preventing extremism terrorism and stopping citizen involvement in non-permitted activities
The exercises – which include riot-control tactics and crowd management – send a clear message to potential protesters. Law-enforcement units are practicing:
- Street-blockade methods
- Crowd dispersal techniques
- Response to unauthorized gatherings
- Mass-disorder prevention
These pre-election preparations show how Belarus authorities want to keep tight control over the political landscape. The police forces dont leave any room for spontaneous public reactions during the voting period
