Monday, September 14, 2020

Putin backs Lukashenko as Belarus leader vows closer ties

Putin backs Lukashenko
Russian President Vladimir Putin has backed the embattled Belarus leader and promised €1.26bn loan as Alexander Lukashenko vowed to strengthen ties with Moscow.


Mr Lukashenko thanked Mr Putin and vowed to stick closer to "elder brother" Moscow during one-to-one talks at the Russian president's residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi that lasted around four hours.

The Belarusian leader was making his first foreign trip since his disputed win in 9 August presidential polls prompted mass protests against his rule, the latest drawing tens of thousands in Minsk yesterday.

Mr Putin appeared to endorse mr Lukashenko's political future, praising the Belarusian's sketched-out plans for constitutional changes to appease the opposition.

The Russian president said during joint televised comments he was "sure that considering your experience" this would "allow the development of the country's political system to reach new heights".

Mr Putin also offered economic support, saying Russia would extend Belarus a government loan of €1.26bn.

He said that Belarusians should deal with the crisis "themselves, calmly and in dialogue with each other, without hints and pressure from outside".

The talks lasted almost four hours, the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, calling them "constructive".

He said Mr Lukashenko confirmed to Mr Putin "his intention to make changes to the constitution," while declining to give details....
(RTE)

1 comment :

  1. The Kremlin considers Alexander Lukashenko to be the legitimate president of Belarus, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman told reporters, after the two leaders emerged from a one-on-one meeting in Sochi on Monday.
    Dmitry Peskov’s comments came after threats from Western-backed opposition figurehead Svetlana Tikhanovskaya that any agreements made between Moscow and Minsk would not be recognized by her movement, should it ever come to power. Describing Lukashenko as an “illegitimate” president, she said that, in her opinion, any deals he makes, have no legal force.

    “Mr. Lukashenko is the legitimate president of Belarus and is the counterpart of President Putin in interstate relations,” Peskov emphasized. “As for those who do not agree with the election results, they are all citizens of brotherly Belarus and we appreciate and love them. But we want everything that happens in Belarus to take place not in the form of unconstitutional maneuvers, but legally.”

    ReplyDelete

Only News

Featured Post

“The U.S. must stop supporting terrorists who are destroying Syria and her people" : US Congresswoman, Tulsi Gabbard

US Congresswoman, Tulsi Gabbard, recently visited Syria, and even met with President Bashar Al-Assad. She also visited the recently libe...

Blog Widget by LinkWithin