Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko ordered his defence minister on Saturday to take "stringent measures" to defend the country's territorial integrity after mass protests erupted against his claim to election victory.
The 65-year-old authoritarian leader, who said he won a sixth presidential term with 80 per cent of the vote in a ballot on 9 August, made the comments during an inspection of military units in Grodno, near Belarus's border with Poland, according to the president's press service.
Mr Lukashenko denounced recent mass protests, which he said were receiving support from Western countries, and ordered the army to defend western Belarus, which he described as "a pearl".
Belarusians attend a rally in support of the opposition, against police brutality and the results of the Belarusian presidential election in Minsk Source: EPA
"It involves taking the most stringent measures to protect the territorial integrity of our country," Lukashenko said.
His visit comes ahead of large-scale military exercises planned in the Grodno region between 28-31 August.
Opponents of Europe's longest serving leader have organised strikes and the largest demonstrations in the ex-Soviet country's recent history to protest his re-election and demand that he stand down.
The authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the opposition's Coordination Council, whose members are seeking new elections and a peaceful transition of power.
Mr Lukashenko has rejected the idea of holding another ballot, dismissed calls to resign and accused the opposition of attempting to seize power.
On Friday he vowed to "solve the problem" of the protest movement.
Exiled opposition leader and political newcomer, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said this week that Belarusians would "never accept the current leadership again" after Mr Lukashenko's crackdown on mass protests following the disputed election.
