Russian govt to discuss deploying air base in Belarus to 'consolidate long-term military presence'

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On Wednesday the Russian government is to discuss a proposal to president Vladimir Putin to sign the agreement on the Russian air base in the Belarusian territory, RIA Novosti reports with reference to the press service of the Russian Cabinet of Ministers.

"Signing the agreement will facilitate the organization of joint protection of the external border of the Union State in the airspace and the establishment of joint regional air defense system of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus", the statement says.

The agreement is expected to 'consolidate long-term Russian military presence in the region'.
Belarusian opposition activists and stand tough against establishing the base. By the moment there have been only a few Russian military facilities, not bases.
It is to be recalled that it is the Russian military presence in Sevastopol that made it possible to capture and annex Crimea in 2014. A base in the Belarusian city of Baranavichy (or Babruysk), will offer the opportunity to control the entire air space of Belarus, including Minsk.
Earlier, Russia's defense minister Sergei Shoigu said that a base might be established in Belarus in 2015.
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