Lukashenko commented on idea of establishing civil guards
Talking to journalists after the grand opening of children’s polyclinic No. 9 in Minsk, the President told some details about the idea of creating civil guards. According to him, this project goes in line with the organisation of territorial defence forces, taking into account the experience of Ukrainian events.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted, “A few years ago, when we were establishing our territorial defence troops, I said that these people should be taught because no one will defend your own house like you do.”
The Head of State suggested that this idea was apparently heard in Ukraine, they also began to create territorial defence forces, but haphazardly, with uncontrolled distribution of weapons. This led to mass cases of banditry and looting. Meanwhile, our system is organised clearly, “All those on territorial defence are assigned to battalions and regiments. We know their names and all their data. Weapons have been stockpiled for them: for every battalion, for every district. We have prepared territorial defence troops. We are now slowly starting to raise them, training governors and chairmen of district executive committees.”
Based on this experience, the Commander-in-Chief plans the defence further, “I thought that just in case we need to have these civil guards at every village council. It won’t be much. Maybe 50 people, but they should also have their weapons somewhere in the warehouse. We will draft them for training – they will take their assault rifles (primarily assault rifles, grenade launchers, and pistols) so that they could protect their homes. They need to be taught. It is necessary to plan weapons to meet their needs, everything they need. These will be small groups at village councils so that these people know how to use the main weapon.”
The President did not rule out that in critical moments a partisan movement could grow out of such formations, “It can have an open character, or it can turn into a partisan movement. It can also serve as a reserve for territorial defence forces.”
The Head of State admitted that he is thinking about strengthening the defence capability in different directions. This topic was also discussed during a meeting with the Head of the Belarusian Society of Hunters and Fishermen Igor Shunevich, “He has 90,000 hunters. I ask him whether they will be on the sidelines? One and a half of our current army. Let’s take at least 5,000 (excellent shooters), we will think about how to equip them. He says that they have everything necessary. His task is to enrol these 5,000 people and be the commander of this corps or brigade. 5,000 trained people is a force.”
The President also recalled his recent decision to create an armed reserve in the Ministry of Emergency Situations, “It will include 2,000 people. We have already allocated weapons to them and are starting to train them.”
The President drew attention to the fact that all these plans are not accidental, “It’s all dictated by life itself. Let people learn how to use weapons. There is nothing wrong. Each family will be able to protect their home, settlement, village.”
