Belarus President Lukashenko Contradicts Russian Claims on Moscow Attack
Lukashenko’s Revelation
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko revealed on Tuesday that the gunmen involved in the recent attack on Moscow’s Crocus City Hall music venue initially attempted to escape to Belarus, contradicting Russian officials’ claims that they were headed to Ukraine.
Putin’s Accusations
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of facilitating the attackers’ border crossing, despite Ukraine’s strong denial. Putin’s allies, Patrushev and Bortnikov, also pointed fingers at Kyiv without providing any evidence.
Belarus’s Role
However, Lukashenko, a close ally of Putin, stated that Belarusian and Russian security services worked together to intercept the suspects’ vehicle as it fled towards the Bryansk region, bordering Ukraine and Belarus.
Swift Action
Lukashenko mentioned that Belarus promptly set up checkpoints at the border, preventing the suspects from entering the country. This forced them to change course towards the Ukrainian-Russian border.
Collaborative Efforts
“Putin and I didn’t sleep for a day,” Lukashenko disclosed, emphasizing the continuous coordination between Russia and Belarus. Bortnikov further alleged that Ukraine had been training Islamist militants in the Middle East.
International Involvement
US officials confirmed intelligence linking the Islamic State to the attack, a claim Putin acknowledged. However, he expressed a desire to uncover the masterminds behind the operation.
