You're reading: Lukashenko: Belarus now capable of countering destabilization attempts on Internet

Minsk - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has urged partners in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) to take into account the problems related to attempts to destabilize a civil society via the Internet.

During the recent informal CSTO summit in Astana, "very serious attention was paid to what is going on in the media space, which today is being used in several directions as an attempt to destabilize the situation in any particular country," Lukashenko said at a meeting with attendees of a session of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly Council. "Look what is happening in the Arab world," Lukashenko said.

"Unfortunately, the situation has not changed there," he said. "The results of the Tunisian elections have been announced. Look who won there. The Islamists, the most radical part of them. And what will happen in Egypt, and what will happen in Libya?" Lukashenko asked.

"One should not think that all this is far from us and has nothing to do with us," he said. "But nor should one think that we are trembling before these networks [social networking websites]," the president said.

"There have been attempts throughout this year to destabilize the social situation in our country through the social network," he said. "We have learnt to fight against this evil. And there is no fear here, no bans, we are not shutting down the Internet or social networks. You are welcome to speak and discuss. But if these actions are unlawful, we will take necessary measures," the Belarusian president said.