Putin pledges a billion dollar loan to controversial Belarusian leader Lukashenko | NOW

Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko an amount of 1.5 billion dollars (1.25 million euros) in economic aid for his country. The Russian leader also supports Lukashenko’s plans to change Belarus’ constitution so that Lukashenko can stay in power longer.

The two leaders spoke one-on-one in the Russian resort of Sochi on Monday. At the end of the approximately four-hour talks, Lukashenko thanked Putin for his support and promised to stay closer to “older brother” Moscow. For Lukashenko, the money is a boost; he has almost no sources of money other than from Russia.

Putin gave few details about the new loan. The Kremlin later reported that some of the money would be used to refinance previous loans. It also announced that the two presidents had agreed to promote trade cooperation and that they had discussed energy supplies for Belarus, which we previously called Belarus.

Putin also said that the two countries will continue their defense cooperation. For example, Moscow will send paratroopers to Belarus for a joint exercise. Yet, according to Putin, it is up to the Belarusians themselves to reach a common solution in a calm manner and by means of conversations, without incentive and pressure from outside.

Lukashenko learns ‘serious lesson’ from provoking Russia

It was Lukashenko’s first trip abroad since his disputed election victory on August 9. Since then, protesters in the capital Minsk and in other places in Belarus have taken to the streets daily to express their dissatisfaction with the result, which hardly anyone thinks is correct.

For 66-year-old Lukashenko, who has been in power in Belarus for 26 years, initially had an uncomfortable meeting with Putin. Just before the presidential election, he had arrested dozens of Russians in his country, who he said were out to destabilize the country. On Monday, Lukashenko said he had learned “a serious lesson” about these events.

In the run-up to the conversation, protesters in Minsk again took to the streets in large numbers on Sunday, because they were afraid of more Russian interference in Belarus. At least 774 participants in the protest were arrested. The government argued that the protesters used flags and symbols that were not allowed.

Why do we call Belarus Belarus from now on?

• Since independence in 1991, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the country has been officially called the Republic of Belarus. That name is therefore used in official texts. Belarus does more justice to what the population calls the country itself. Some Belarusians take offense at the name Belarus because of the association with Russia. Previously, we used the established name Belarus, because it is more recognizable to many readers.

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