Interior: Russian police will not be deployed at sport and public sites in 2019

Belarus' Ministry of Internal Affairs has explained in response to media and public concerns what exactly Russian police officers will be doing in our country during the 2019 European Games. The Belarus Interior Minister said yesterday they would be deployed during the upcoming international sporting events - the 2019 European Games in Minsk and 2012 World Ice Hockey Championship hosted by Belarus and Latvia, according to the decision taken at the United Collegium of Interior Ministries of the Belarus-Russia Union State in Navapolack.

The Belarusian police agency wrote on its Facebook page that Russian police officers will not be present at sport and public sites. They will only provide methodological support and consultations to the hosts on how to organize major international sporting events. Russians are expected to share their experience gained during the recent 2018 FIFA World Cup. "A certain number" of police officers will be part of the operational situations command centers tasked to coordinate police actions and outreach during sporting events.