Reports: Belarus authorities seek $2.5 bln in financial aid from Russia
These can be both loans from the Russian government or from major Russian state-owned banks.
Belarusian authorities have asked the Russian government for financial support for 2015 in the amount of $2.5 billion. It was reported by portal tut.by with reference to several informed sources. Supposedly, there are now discussions being held about various forms of financial aid. These can be both loans from the Russian government, and loans from major Russian state-owned banks.
Also, an unnamed source claims that "the Belarusian enterprises can reap significant benefits of accessing the Russian market".
After Prime Minister Andrei Kabyakou visited Moscow, it became known that the Belarusian government is preparing a program with Russia involving anti-crisis measures to overcome the economic problems. The final version is scheduled to be considered and agreed on a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Russia and Belarus on March 3.
It was Alyaksandr Lukashenka who said at a recent press conference that, if necessary, we could "lean on Russia".
This year, Belarus has to pay about $4 billion on foreign obligations. At the same time, in January, foreign exchange reserves of the country fell by 335 million dollars - to $4.7 billion.
Photo: Fotolia
