MOSCOW, Aug 27 - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday the Kremlin had set up a police force to support Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko at his request, although it would not be deployed unless unrest there spun out of control, Reuters reported.

The remarks were the strongest signal yet that Russia is prepared to use force if needed in Belarus, where mass demonstrations have taken place since an Aug. 9 election that the opposition says was rigged to prolong Lukashenko’s 26-year rule.

“We have of course certain obligations towards Belarus, and the question Lukashenko raised was whether we would provide the necessary help,” Putin told state television.

“I told him Russia would fulfil all its obligations. Alexander Grigorivich (Lukashenko) asked me to create a reserve police force and I have done that. But we agreed this would not be used unless the situation got out of control.”

The Belarusian opposition Coordination Council said Moscow’s move to set up such force violated international law.

Belarus has been in turmoil since the election. Security forces have beaten protesters and arrested thousands in a bid to stamp out mass demonstrations and strikes.

The police appeared to take a less aggressive posture last week, but arrests of protesters have since increased again.

On Thursday, around 1,000 people gathered on the main square, some forming a chain and praying, while police and soldiers massed. Police arrested scores of them.

About 20 journalists preparing to cover the rally, including a Reuters cameraman, were also detained. Their telephones and identity documents were confiscated.

The West has so far acted cautiously, wary of provoking a Russian military response as took place in Ukraine in 2014.

In Berlin, EU foreign ministers discussed possible sanctions against a short list of up to 20 Belarusians blamed for electoral fraud or the abuse of protesters.

Belarus, which borders Ukraine, is Russia’s closest ally among ex-Soviet states, and its fortified frontiers with NATO members are crucial to Moscow’s defense strategy. Moscow and Minsk have even proclaimed a “union state”, complete with a Soviet-style red flag. (rt/ez)