08 Feb 2022; MEMO: The President of Belarus denied on Tuesday reports claiming that his country intends to send 200 soldiers to Syria to serve alongside Russian forces there. Alexander Lukashenko told the Belarusian Security Council that the reports that the Russian government had decided to send Belarus forces to Syria were not true.
"According to the current law, this is not possible without a presidential decree," explained Lukashenko. "I did not send anyone [to Syria]."
He pointed out that the Syrian regime had requested medical help from Belarus long ago, but this is not possible at the present time due to the coronavirus pandemic situation in his country. "We have nothing to do there. If there is a need for doctors, we will help."
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin instructed the Russian defence and foreign ministries on Monday to negotiate and sign an agreement with Belarus to provide humanitarian aid to Syria. The draft agreement, published on the Russian government's website, suggested sending up to 200 Belarusian soldiers to Syria "exclusively for humanitarian purposes outside the combat zone".
