Poland summons Belarusian ambassador over Lukashenko's accusations

"With regard to the repeated unfounded accusations from Belarus leaders towards Poland, the ... Belarus ambassador (was) summoned to the (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) today at 15:00," Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Przydacz said on Twitter.

Shortly after the meeting, Przydacz said on Twitter: "I've informed Mr Ambassador that in Poland there is no consent for this sort of narration, this sort of accusations; that we are surprised, disappointed and concerned with these words, spoken by President Lukashenko himself".

Lukashenko has accused Poland of planning to take over the Grodno region bordering Poland and Lithuania if Belarus falls apart, Belarus's state news agency Belta reported.

Belta on Thursday quoted Lukashenko as saying he had dispatched some armed forces to the western border with Poland.

"You see these statements saying that if Belarus falls apart, Grodno Oblast will become part of Poland. They are already saying it openly, they are dreaming about it. They will not succeed, I know it for sure," Belta quoted him as saying.

Lukashenko has also accused the U.S.-led NATO alliance, to which Poland and Lithuania belong, of building up forces near the border with Belarus.

According to the Belarusian president, the neighbouring countries "not only openly express their viewpoint on repeated election in the country, but also start to meddle in internal affairs, exert pressure on the state". "This is clearly a diplomatic war," Lukashenko added.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg flatly denied the allegation on Wednesday, saying any attempt by the Belarusian government to use the Western alliance as a scapegoat and rationale for repression of popular protests was "wrong and unjustified."

On Thursday, Poland's Prime Minister commented on the situation in Belarus.

"I call on the BY authorities to release the illegally detained and interrogated opposition activists. A dialogue must be a norm" - head of Polish government wrote on Twitter. He added that "the Coordinating Council is today the right partner to talk to the authorities in Minsk".

As its priority task, the Council seeks a peaceful transition of power in Belarus.

Earlier on, Morawiecki announced creating a special fund which aim would be to support people persecuted in Belarus, facilitate their entry to Poland and work access, create stipends for people in exile, support independent media and Polish NGOs promoting civic society in Belarus.

On Wednesday, PM Morawiecki discussed the situation in Belarus with the leaders of Poland's parliamentary factions.

Lukashenko has faced more than two weeks of mass protests against his 26-year-old rule since the August 9 election which official results say he won with 80 percent of the vote.

He denies accusations of electoral fraud and says the protests have been orchestrated and funded from abroad.

European Union foreign ministers are considering sanctions against Belarus to pressure Lukashenko to hold new elections.