Lukashenko's statement outrages Armenian opposition

Supporters of the oppositional "National Democratic Pole" (NDP) have held a rally in Yerevan in defence of the country's sovereignty. They criticized the statement of Belarusian President, Alexander Lukashenko, about the prospects for Armenia's accession to the Union State of Russia and Belarus.

On February 7, the YouTube posted an interview with President Lukashenko, in which he spoke about the prospects for expanding the Union State of Russia and Belarus by joining a number of countries that had been parts of the Soviet Union. "Armenia has nowhere to go; do you think someone needs them?" Lukashenko has asked.

About 50 people took part in the protest action, organizers have reported. They left a bag of potatoes with garbage and caricatures of Lukashenko at the entrance to the Belarusian Embassy.

Vaagn Avagyan, an activist of the NDP, believes that Lukashenko's statement has to do with the Russia's intent to recreate the Soviet Union.

If no apologies are made, the Belarusian Embassy should be closed, believes Albert Bagdasaryan, another NDP activist, has stated.

In Armenia, there is no demand for any membership in the Union State, just as there were no proposals from Russia, said Grant Mikaelyan, the author of the blog "Political Geography of Southern Caucasus" that he runs on the "Caucasian Knot".

Lukashenko's statement is directed against Armenia's sovereignty, says the appeal of 18 human rights and public organizations.