I don't care what you think. Can't you hear? We'll cut out all the bastards.

Lukashenko gave an expressive interview to a BBC journalist. Brief summary

We did not invite the refugees, they are coming to you. I said that I would not keep them at the border, but I did not invite them here. Why do you care how Merkel addresses me - Mr. President or Mr. Lukashenko? I don’t care what you think, I was not elected by the European Union. I don’t care whether you consider me legitimate. Yes, I admit that protesters were beaten. And what would have happened with you or in America if they had rushed at a policeman and started breaking his legs? Don’t even bother asking about the closed NGOs, I’ll tell you right away - we will cut out all the bastards you financed. They hid behind signs about animal protection, but they received money for the revolution. We have no political prisoners. Not a single one, can’t you hear? I don’t know who Putin advised to communicate with the opposition, I just spoke to him, he didn’t say anything like that to me. As soon as he sits down at the negotiating table with Navalny, I will immediately start negotiations with Tikhanovskaya. You financed the rebellion last year. And the Americans were behind you. Listen, Steve , what are you telling me? These are your people, you financed them, that’s why they are all sitting with you now. They didn’t run to China — because it had nothing to do with it. Don’t pretend you don’t understand.

This is a rough summary of Alexander Lukashenko's interview with the BBC. The quotes provided are not necessarily verbatim. The full interview can be viewed here .

Cover photo: Sergei Sheleg / BelTA / TASS / Scanpix / LETA