Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya urged Belarusians not to fall for Russian recruitment to the war against Ukraine.
“Russia is now trying to draw Belarusians directly into someone else’s bloody and criminal war — through recruitment websites and promises of money. They do not have enough of their own ‘cannon fodder,’ and now they want to take the lives of our men to fill gaps on the front,” Tsikhanouskaya warned.
A recruitment website for Belarusian citizens to fight on Russia’s side in the war appeared in the Belarusian domain zone in recent days. Tsikhanouskaya called it an encroachment on the security of Belarusians.
“The launch of recruitment resources in the ‘.БЕЛ’ domain zone with the regime’s acquiescence or direct assistance is a direct encroachment on the security of our nation. Lukashenka has handed over the land and infrastructure, and now turns a blind eye to Russian recruiters being given access to our citizens.
Recruiting citizens to take part in hostilities on the territory of another state is an extremely serious crime under both international law and Belarusian law itself,” the leader of Belarusian democratic forces said.
Tsikhanouskaya urged people not to believe promises of high earnings from the war and warned that the Russian command views mercenaries as expendable material.
“You are not being invited to ‘contract service,’ but to a meat grinder. Recruiters do not care what happens to you or your families.
That is why I urge you! Do not fall for advertisements and promises. No payments are worth your life. Do not provide your personal data and do not fill out forms. If your son, brother or friend is considering such ‘earnings’ — explain to him that it is a one-way ticket.
Belarusians are not aggressors. Our goal is to preserve our country, protect our families and prevent ourselves from being drawn into war crimes. Belarusian men are needed by their country alive,” Tsikhanouskaya said.
