Ukraine not to interfere in Belarus internal affairs - Bodnar

Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Vasyl Bodnar has said that Ukraine has not interfered and will not interfere in the internal affairs of Belarus.

He wrote this on his Facebook page, commenting on a statement by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov that "the destabilization of the situation in Belarus" was managed from the Ukrainian territory.

"We categorically reject the insinuations of Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov that 'the destabilization of the situation in Belarus' was allegedly managed from the territory of Ukraine. Ukraine has never interfered and is not planning to interfere in the internal affairs of Belarus, unlike Russia and its special services," Bodnar said.

According to him, a significant degree of responsibility for the current situation in Belarus lies with Russia, "which insidiously is trying to deprive the Belarusian people of their independence and sovereignty, to seize their property and assets."

Bodnar stressed that Russia is afraid of a democratic Ukraine, the democratization of Belarus, and therefore it "constantly resorts to discrediting and manipulation."

He said that Russia's attempts to sow discord between the Ukrainian and Belarusian peoples, as well as "futile attempts to shift the responsibility for Russia's own subversive activities onto Ukraine," are doomed to failure.

op