The detention of 33 Russian nationals was a carefully designed provocation of a third state, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday, APA reports citing TASS.
"The story about 33 Russian citizens detained in Belarus has been rocking the information space for a week minimum. It was presented as almost an operation of Russia’s to deploy some specially trained people to destabilize our neighbouring country. And what has turned out? It happened to be a third country’s provocation as is now being established based on the facts," she said.
Zakharova also noted that It is unacceptable to use the situation with Russian nationals detained in Belarus for electoral purposes.
"Those people’s guilt has not been proved. It is inadmissible to use these people for certain electoral purposes or interests," the diplomat said.
"The main thing is that it is inadmissible to use this situation, to promote - as it has already been reiterated at all levels - that performance with participation of Russian citizens for electoral goals."
Belarus reported about the detention of 33 Russian nationals in the early hours of July 29. Minsk claimed they are employees of a foreign private military company. According to latest reports, they are suspected of plotting mass unrest.
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