Belarus holds police drills ahead of January presidential election

19/11/2024 19:04

        Belarus will conduct police drills this week ahead of the country's January presidential election to ensure that "manifestations of extremism and terrorism" are
        prevented, the country's interior ministry said on Tuesday.
        
        Belarus will hold the presidential vote on Jan. 26 in which President Alexander Lukashenko, who has held the country in firm grip for the past 20 years, is not expected to lose.
        
        "The goal (of the drills) ... is to prevent manifestations of extremism and terrorism, the involvement of citizens in illegal actions, and the suppression of violations of public order," the Belarusian interior ministry said in a statement on its Telegram messaging channel.
        
        The training from Nov. 19-22 will be conducted in the capital of Minsk and in major regional towns and centres, the ministry said.