Kremlin Refuses to Comment on Whether Moscow Has Plan in Case Lukashenko Fails to Hold on to Power

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to speculate on Moscow's reaction to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko potentially losing power.

"I would rather not get into some conjectures now, I would not speculate about that," Peskov told reporters, when asked if the Kremlin had a plan for what to do if Lukashenko does not hold on to power.

On Monday, Lukashenko met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi. Putin confirmed that Moscow would lend Minsk $1.5 billion. When asked if any conditions were attached to the loan, Peskov said that any loan has commercial terms, but those were the only ones in this case.

"Obviously, there cannot be any other conditions," Peskov told reporters.
Peskov said on Monday that Russia's issuance of $1.5 billion in a state loan to Belarus must not be interpreted as interference in its internal affairs...
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