Russia to lend Belarus $1.5bn as Lukashenko tells Putin 'a chum is in predicament'

The embattled Belarusian president, Alexander Lukashenko, held lengthy talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Monday, in a meeting viewed as important to deciding on whether or now not Lukashenko can continue to exist a protest circulate towards him.

The pair met at Putin's dwelling in Sochi, the first overseas commute Lukashenko has made in view that protests began a month in the past.

"a chum is in obstacle, and that i say that in actual fact," Lukashenko informed Putin in televised remarks firstly of the assembly, thanking him for his support. Putin every now and then seemed visibly bored all through the dialog, tapping his fingers and toes as Lukashenko embarked on a long monologue. Putin pointed out Russia would offer a mortgage of $1.5bn to Belarus, which could help Lukashenko steer clear of an financial crisis within the short time period.

The pair later talked for 4 hours, observed Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov, characterising the conversation as "beneficial, lengthy and sizeable in content".

He said Putin had backed Lukashenko's conception of constitutional reform, anything the opposition in the country have pushed aside as window dressing with none real substance. Lukashenko has previously noted he would quite die than relinquish vigor. Analysts say Putin doesn't peculiarly like or have faith Lukashenko, however is loth to look vigor challenged through street protests in a country so close to Russia.

there were few additional particulars of even if the pair made any agreements in the back of closed doors, or what Lukashenko promised in return for the monetary aid. Some trust Putin's game may well be to force a weakened Lukashenko to accept extra integration between the two countries, almost resulting in a type of smooth annexation.

Russia and Belarus nominally kind a "union state" it really is supposed to involve shut integration under a number of regular associations but really only exists on paper, partly as a result of during the past Lukashenko has been reluctant to cede vigour.

The consult with came a day after Lukashenko's riot police struggled to deal with a different big rally in Minsk and different cities, in which water cannon had been used towards protesters. On Monday morning, the nation's interior ministry observed 774 americans had been detained on Sunday, including greater than 500 in Minsk.

The slogan for the protest on Sunday, with Lukashenko's meeting with Putin in intellect, became changed into: "We gained't let him promote the nation." besides the fact that children the protests have not been geopolitical, and many americans in Belarus are seasoned-Russian, there's increasing disquiet at the Kremlin's help for Lukashenko.

Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who formally won simply 10% of the votes in last month's presidential election but has declared herself "national leader" after she changed into forced into exile to neighbouring Lithuania, released a statement warning Putin that any agreements he made with Lukashenko would be deemed invalid. Tikhanovskaya has spoke of she wants to preside over a transition duration earlier than new, free elections are held.

"I need to remind Vladimir Putin, whatever you compromise on in Sochi wouldn't have prison drive," Tikhanovskaya observed on Monday. "Any agreements signed with the illegitimate Lukashenko may be revisited by way of the brand new govt. since the Belarusian individuals withdrew their believe and assist for Lukashenko on the elections. I regret that you've selected speak with a usurper, and never with the Belarusian americans."

The Belarusian president, Alexander Lukashenko, greets officials right through a welcoming ceremony upon his arrival at an airport in Sochi, Russia. graphic: BelTA/Reuters

Protests had been ongoing for more than a month, due to the fact Lukashenko declared victory in a presidential election on 9 August after which cracked down ruthlessly on protests in the aftermath.

In recent days, police have begun a renewed crackdown, and incidents caught on digital camera reveal that, for the primary time, they've been inclined to make use of violence towards female protesters. Authorities have additionally targeted the leaders of the stream, primarily these worried in a coordination council install to supervise a peaceable transition of vigour. contributors were arrested, threatened or deported.

Lukashenko has publicly asked Putin to intervene militarily in Belarus, portray the demonstrations as an arm of a Nato-led armed forces assault on the country. Putin has declined to do so, however stated he had organized a contingent of legislations enforcement officers to ship in if issues got out of manage. After the talks, Peskov mentioned both leaders had agreed this contingent would now be taken off high alert.

This week, Russia will ship paratroopers to Belarus for 10 days of defense force workout routines entitled "Slavic brotherhood". Putin pointed out that there could be monthly defense force drills between Russian and Belarusian forces over the next yr, but emphasised that the forces would no longer stay in Belarus after the drills.