MINSK, Belarus - Leaders of Russia and Belarus sat down for talks Saturday on deepening ties between the two allies — a meeting that triggered a protest in the Belarusian capital. More than 1,000 opposition demonstrators rallied in Minsk to protest closer integration with Russia, which they fear could erode the post-Soviet independence of the nation of 10 million. Russian officials noted that Minsk should accept closer economic integration if it wants to benefit from lower energy prices. Lukashenko has bristled at the Russian pressure, charging that some Russian officials want to push Belarus into weakening its sovereignty. The Belarusian leader vowed not to surrender Belarus’ post-Soviet independence, but the opposition in Belarus has remained nervous.

Source: thestar December 07, 2019 11:27 UTC