Lukashenka to make first visit to EU after lifted sanctions

The Russian government's newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta reports that on Friday May 20 Aliaksandr Lukashenka will make his first visit to the European Union since the lifting of the sanctions. He will reportedly visit Italy where the meetings are planned with President Sergio Mattarella and Pope Francis.

In a commentary for Radio Svaboda, Lukashenka's spokesperson Natallia Eismant said the visit had been planned for a long time. More details of the visit's agenda will be released later, she said.

Lukashenka visited Italy and Vatican in 2009 when he met the then Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Pope Benedict XVI.