Borders closed, hardliners appointed

MOSCOW: Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko partially closed the country’s land borders and shook up his security team yesterday in an attempt to tighten his grip after months of mass protests.

Minsk announced restrictions at its borders with Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine, citing the pandemic.

Poland said only Belarusian citizens and trucks were being allowed to travel to Belarus at some of its borders. Lithuanian border guard chief Rustamas Liubajevas said cars were barred from entering Belarus and, a few hours later, the border was closed for outgoing cars.

Ivan Kubrakov, who as head of police in Minsk has led the crackdown on the demonstrations, was appointed interior minister.

His predecessor, Yuri Karayev, was one of three men named to new roles with regional responsibilities. The others were former KGB head Valery Vakulchik and ex deputy interior minister Alexander Barsukov. — Reuters