Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, center, inspects equipment and weapons of Belarusian army special troops as he visits the military base in the town of Maryina Gorka, Belarus, July 24, 2020. (PHOTO / AFP)

MINSK - President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday that Belarus had detained a number of people who possessed US passports and were married to US women ahead of its Aug 9 presidential elections, the Belta news agency reported.

Lukashenko provided no further details of the detainees and it was not clear who he was referring to

Lukashenko provided no further details of the detainees and it was not clear who he was referring to.

The US embassy did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Earlier on Thursday, Lukashenko ordered authorities to invite Russia and Ukraine’s prosecutors to Minsk to resolve the case of a group of alleged Russian mercenaries that Belarus detained last week.

Ukraine wants the men extradited to Ukraine over their alleged role in fighting in Ukraine’s east. Russia denies the men are mercenaries and says they work for a private security firm.

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