Belarus chief: Plot to erode nation foiled

MINSK, Belarus — The president of Belarus said Friday that his government thwarted a foreign-inspired plot to destabilize the ex-Soviet nation before the August presidential election in which he is seeking a sixth term.

The allegation by President Alexander Lukashenko followed the detention Thursday of potentially his top election challenger, the former head of a Russia-owned bank, and reflects the strain in his relations with Russia.

Lukashenko, who has been in office for nearly 26 years, said, “The authorities have taken pre-emptive steps and derailed a comprehensive plan to destabilize Belarus.”

“We unmasked not only puppets here but also some puppet masters outside Belarus,” he said.

Lukashenko didn’t name any country, but the statement follows his past rants that Moscow has plans to subdue its ally and neighbor.

Belarusian authorities detained potential presidential candidate and former Belgazprombank chief Viktor Babariko on Thursday after arresting 15 bank executives on tax evasion and money laundering charges and putting the bank under temporary administration.

The Kremlin said it wasn’t backing Babariko in the election but warned it would act to protect Russian business interests in Belarus.

Babariko, who has yet to register as a candidate, has denounced the arrests as part of an intimidation campaign. His supporters have 435,000 signatures, with a minimum of 100,000 needed to qualify for the race.

Babariko is seen as the strongest of 10 candidates who plan to challenge Lukashenko, who has ruled the nation of 9.5 million since July 1994.

The European Union called on the Belarusian authorities to free Babariko and “to ensure a meaningful and competitive political contest.”