Russian fighter jets give rise to questions from Pabriks
2013 12 12
Duty squad of four Russian Su-27 fighters landed in the Brest region of Belarus, near the border with Lithuania and Poland.
According to local media, the fighters landed at the airport of the 61st Fighter Air Base in Baranovichy. In addition, Russian technical staff arrived in Belarus.
Be reminded that in April 2013 Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu at a meeting with the Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated that Russia plans to station in 2015 its own air base in the republic.
According to the original plan, in 2013 Belarus is supposed to receive the first duty squad of fighters.
Commenting on the coming of Russian fighters in Belarus, the Defence Minister of Latvia Artis Pabriks stated to the portal telegraf.lv:
"The RL Defence Ministry is continuously monitoring and analyzing what is happening on cross-border territories. Placement of the Russian Air Force base, as well as elements of Anti-aircraft warfare (PVO) on the territory of the Republic of Belarus confirms the previously documented trends and gives rise to many questions, since Belarus already has powerful enough air defence system to ensure safety of their country. Thus we have to admit unhealthy policy tendencies of the neighbouring State to Latvia."
Material has been prepared by the Centre of Geopolitical Studies with reference to the article from “Telegraf.lv” of 09 12 2013 | 
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