Kremlin: Russians detained in Belarus employees of private security firm heading to Istanbul, not related to local affairs
MOSCOW. July 31 (Interfax) - The Russian citizens detained in Belarus were making a stopover in that country on their way to Istanbul and did not do anything unlawful, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
"We can already say with a high degree of certainty now that these Russian citizens were in Belarus on a stopover, in transit, and were supposed to leave for another country. Their presence is in no way related to Belarus itself or Belarusian affairs," Peskov told reporters.
The Russians missed their original flight and were waiting for another, he said.
"They had tickets to Istanbul. They are employees of a private security firm. They didn't do and didn't have anything unlawful. They weren't involved in any unlawful acts. That's what we know for certain," Peskov said.