At the start of talks on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin warmly welcomed the besieged ruler of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, and gave him a loan of 1.5 1.5 billion, in which he expressed his full support for the monthly opposition protests over the disputed election. Was’ offered.
"We
consider Belarus our closest ally and, as I have repeatedly told you on the
phone, we will fulfill all our obligations," Putin said.
The
domineering-looking Lukashenko thanked Putin for his support. "These
events show that we need to stay close to our older brother," he said,
"since the political crisis began.
Belarus's
currency has come under pressure during the crisis, which has fallen more than
8% in the past three months. Putin said that at this "critical
moment" for Belarus, Russia would provide a loan of 1.5 billion and that
"I hope it will have a positive effect on the financial markets."
A day after
talks in Sochi, Russia's Black Sea, on Sochi, the Belarusian capital, Minsk,
violently tried to break up protests against Lukashenko for the fifth Sunday in
a row, condemning rioting police and masked men. Police detained 774 people,
the Interior Ministry said Monday.
Putin vows not
to allow protesters to overthrow Lukashenko, who has ruled for 26 years, even
as Moscow does not trust him and will encourage the resulting measures,
according to five people close to the Kremlin. That said, there should be no
indication to discuss domestic policy.
In a telephone
conversation with Putin on Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron stressed
the need for a political solution in Belarus "without external
interference," Elsie said in a statement. According to a Kremlin
statement, Putin confirmed Russia's opposition to any foreign intervention in
Belarus.
Although the
opposition movement has been cautious in emphasizing that it is not
anti-Russian, Putin has offered a police force to help Lukashenko defuse the
unrest, according to striking journalists in Minsk. Sent media workers to
replace Belarus and began talks to restore debt.
The
opposition, united behind Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who says she won the election and is now living in exile in Lithuania,
wants Lukashenko to begin talks on giving power. He has rejected any compromise
with the protesters.
The crisis
erupted over the return of a close ally of Moscow, which has exchanged
pro-Kremlin leaders in Ukraine and Armenia since 2014, and was allowed’ a few
weeks after Putin's changes to Russia's constitution to allow him to resign.
Extend two decades of rule, possibly by 2036.
The European
Union and the United States have condemned the crackdown and rejected the
election results, but so far have only threatened sanctions.
Lukashenko's
relationship with Putin came after tensions escalated last year when Russia
called for deeper economic and political unity.
After
attacking Russia during the election, its inclination turned towards Moscow
when Belarusian security forces used brutal tactics against protesters, forcing
them to leave the country or imprisoning almost all senior opposition figures.
In a statement
issued before the talks began on Monday, Tsikhanouskaya warned Putin that
"whatever you agree on during the meeting in Sochi will not have legal
force" because the opposition has since rejected it.
"I am
sorry that you decided to talk to the usurper, not the people of Belarus,"
he said.
READ MORE
0 Comments