Putin’s proposal to Lukashenko: a loan and constitutional changes

Added a section on “The Kremlin: Establishing a Base in Exchange for Undisputed Support.”

The Russian president said he will provide financial assistance to Belarus “at this difficult time.” At present, almost 50% of the foreign debt of Belarus is debt to Russia.

“More recently, the Russian Prime Minister, Mikhail Mishustin, paid a visit to Belarus. I know that he has had big, very serious negotiations and that they have been successful in all areas of our interaction. By the way, also in the financial sphere. We agreed that Russia would provide Belarus with 1.5 billion euros at this difficult time. Dollars, “said Putin, who received Lukashenko in Sochi.

“We have the opportunity to speak calmly, that’s what we meet for now, but first of all, of course, we have to discuss economic issues, because more than 21 percent.” (turnover) is not small, however; It has nothing to do with our work, it has to do with global coronavirus trends. However, together we will fight the coronavirus and, I am sure, we will overcome the current economic difficulties. It is no coincidence that he also mentions the loan that Russia plans to grant to Belarus in the near future. I hope this is reflected in the (Belarusian) financial markets as well, “Putin said.

Putin also spoke in favor of amendments to the Belarusian constitution. According to him, this would be “a timely and logical step.” In Putin’s proposal, changes to the country’s constitution could be implemented over the next two years, weakening the powers of the president. The new presidential election in Belarus, according to the Russian president, perhaps could only be discussed then.

The Russian president also said that the citizens of Belarus have to deal with the situation themselves, without external pressure.

“You know our position very well: we are in favor of the Belarusians themselves, without comments or pressure from abroad, so that they face this situation calmly and in dialogue with each other and make a common decision on how to build their country,” he said. Putin. .

VZ recalls that Putin himself has recently implemented constitutional changes that have assured him the opportunity to remain in the country’s presidency for two more terms.

Mr. Lukashenko: Until now, no one has crossed the “red lines”

Mr Lukashenko, for his part, paid tribute to Putin during the meeting and thanked him for his support: “He has been very humane and fair in supporting us during this post-election period.”

He also said that no one had crossed the “red lines” during the protests in Minsk.

Lukashenko said he was closely following the weekend in Minsk, saying that “the country leads a normal life” on weekdays.

“Yes, on both Saturday and Sunday, we are liberating part of Minsk so that people can, if they wish, take a walk around that part, but the most important thing, and I keep saying, is not to cross the line. red lines, you know better than me, you had to draw these lines first in Chechnya, when you assumed the presidency at a very young age, I remember. God forbid, of course, if that happens in Belarus. But still, there are red lines that no one has the right to cross, “Lukashenko said.

“But so far no one has crossed those red lines,” he added.

Mr. Lukashenko also promised to tell the Russian leader in detail what was happening in Belarus.

“It just came to our knowledge then. You are so experienced [žmogus] “You don’t know worse than I do how to show and tell,” he said.

According to Lukashenko, the problem is not that someone has been overestimated.

“We value and overestimate you. But since we spoke on the phone at the beginning of these events in Belarus, we must learn from all the events. And it is also a very serious lesson for us, which I hope you and I have taught, ”said the President of Belarus.

Kremlin: Establishing a base in exchange for support has not been discussed

The question of establishing a Russian military base in exchange for support for Lukashenko was not discussed during the Sochi talks, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.

“No, these statements have absolutely nothing to do with reality, this issue has not been discussed,” Peskov told reporters in response to a question.

However, he stressed that the issue of joint military exercises was on the negotiating agenda.

“All planned stages will be prepared. However, in the sense that you said no, there is no such issue on the agenda,” added D. Peskov.

He pointed to Putin’s words that after completing the exercise, all Russian soldiers would be returned to their deployment locations.

“It is very important to say here, and this was emphasized by President Putin: after the implementation of all exercise plans, all stages, all Russian soldiers will be returned to their permanent deployment sites,” said a spokesman for the president. Russian.

Cichanouskaya opposes the new loan

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatalana Cichanouskaya has criticized the news of Russia’s 1.5 billion USD government loan to Belarus.

“I hope Putin understands that it is Lukashenko, not our nation, who will have to give that loan,” Cichanouskaya wrote on his Telegram.

“My comment is an appeal to Russian citizens: ‘Dear Russians! You will pay your taxes for our beatings. We are sure you do not want that.” “This may prolong Lukashenko’s agony, but it will not prevent the nation’s victory,” Cichanouskaya said.

VZ recalls that S. Cichanouskaja has previously expressed regret at the meeting of both leaders in Sochi on Monday.

“I want to remind Vladimir Putin: whatever he accepts, whatever he agrees during the meeting in Sochi, will not be legally valid. All the agreements signed with the illegal Lukashenko, the new government will be reviewed. Because the Belarusian people did not trust or support to Lukashenko during the elections. I am very sorry that they have decided to dialogue with the dictator and not with the Belarusian people, “Cichanouskaya said in a statement posted on the Telegram platform.

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