Strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka has urged police forces to send out patrols armed "at least with pistols" in Belarusian cities to better protect citizens against "crimes of an extremist nature." "Today, this is the most important aspect of maintaining law and order -- stopping the actions of scumbags and preventing the 'misguided,'" Lukashenka said at meeting with Belarusian security bodies on February 20. According to official figures, more than 1,300 "extremism" cases were tried by courts last year in Belarus, dubbed by Western diplomats as Europe's last dictatorship. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Belarus Service, click here.
Lukashenka Wants Armed Police Patrols In Belarusian Cities, Vows Measures Against 'Extremism'
Belarusian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka at a meeting with the leadership of the state security agencies in Minsk on February 20.