MINSK, October 16. /TASS/. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has announced a coming inspection of the country’s militia and territorial defense forces, according to the Telegram channel Pul Pervogo, which is affiliated with the Belarusian leader’s press service.

"This is a matter of the utmost importance," the channel quoted the president as saying, adding that the people’s militia and territorial defense forces will be inspected shortly.

"We will soon put this entire nationwide system on its toes, this chain of command, for the purpose of inspection. We’ll see how the people’s militia operates and how the territorial defense forces function. The territorial defense forces will protect major life-support facilities within their districts. And, of course, these functions will also overlap [with those of the people’s militia]," the BelTA news agency quoted Lukashenko as saying.

The Belarusian leader emphasized that every rural council, comprising up to 20 villages where people live, must have a support force. "God forbid an enemy should come - these people must be able to defend themselves and their families. If they (the enemies) come to us with the sword, you know… This small unit (the people’s militia) is very important," Lukashenko said.