Belarus announced the formation of a “people’s militia”

Belarus announced the creation of the so-called “people’s militia,” which could engage 100 to 150 thousand people.

This was discussed at the meeting of the Security Council of Belarus on February 20, which was called by the self-proclaimed president Alexander Lukashenko.

During this meeting, the draft law “On People’s Militia” was considered, BelTA reports.

This document was developed jointly by the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus.

“I have already said more than once: every man (and not only a man) should be able to, at least, handle a weapon. At least to protect one’s family, one’s home, one’s native land, and, if necessary, the country,” Lukashenko said at the meeting of the Security Council.

According to Viktor Khrenin, Head of the Belarusian Ministry of Defense, 100-150 thousand people could be engaged in the “people’s militia.”

The Belarusian Ministry of Defense does not rule out that the number might be higher.

“We have enough mobilization resources, which are registered in our military commissariats. We have checked, and we see that not all of them will be involved in the mobilization plan,” Khrenin said.

At the same time, he does not rule out that those who have not undergone military training, including women, could become “volunteers.”

Khrenin noted that training courses will be provided for “volunteers.”

“We are able to train people in a short period of time. Both during the creation of the people’s militia and before its creation in peacetime,” Khrenin said.

As previously reported, in May of last year, Lukashenko gave the order to establish a so-called “people’s militia” in the country, supposedly to strengthen the country’s defense.