Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko rejected claims that Minsk promotes illegal migration into the European Union. The remarks came at a formal credentials ceremony in Minsk, where ambassadors from China, Kazakhstan, Serbia, Algeria, Mauritania, Burundi, Kuwait, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay presented their letters of credence. Addressing the gathering, Lukashenko insisted that the accusations about encouraging illegal immigration are not new and that Belarus acts to keep its borders secure and its people safe. He explained that the country has long worked to suppress illicit migration channels and to combat cross-border crime in harmony with its international obligations and the resources available to state security and law enforcement. The event underscored Belarus’s frequent cadence of high level diplomacy with a diverse set of states, including partners from Asia, Africa, and the Americas, and the president signaled a readiness to deepen these ties in a period marked by regional migration debates and sanctions pressure. BelTA later reported the remarks from the presidential venue.
Lukashenko went on to say that the unwanted charges of supporting illegal immigration come from outside forces that frame Belarus as the problem. He argued that such migration concerns are not Belarus’s alone to solve, but are matters for those who invite migrants to their countries. The president stressed that Minsk would not bow to mischaracterizations and would continue to reinforce border controls, cooperate with neighbors, and share information with international partners to disrupt trafficking networks. He noted that Belarus fulfills its commitments and operates within its capabilities, and that legitimate concerns about border security require joint, practical responses rather than scapegoating. The remarks were attributed to BelTA.
He also expressed sincere empathy for people who have left their homes in search of safety in the European Union. He said Belarus, despite facing sanctions, remains a place where humanitarian considerations guide official actions. The president emphasized that Belarus does not scheme to profit from migrants and that it acts to help those in need, offering shelter and safe processing where possible, and doing so without relying on outside guarantees. This stance reflects the country s longstanding humanitarian posture and its responsibility to those seeking refuge.
Turning to the domestic political climate, Lukashenko warned that there are efforts to influence events inside Belarus ahead of the presidential elections, which must be held no later than July 20 next year. He asserted that the state would withstand such pressure and that trained minds, labeled ideological brains, will not undermine the political stability. He warned against letting other countries drag Belarus into what he described as an abyss of chaos, stressing that the government would insist on preserving calm and orderly processes as the electoral period unfolds.
Earlier, Lukashenko responded to Ukraine’s accusations of a plot to seize the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. He challenged the claim, stating that such a narrative lacks substance and would not serve regional security. The exchange highlighted Belarus’s approach to diplomacy amid a tense environment along its borders and its commitment to sovereignty and security in the face of external pressure.