Russian PM: Belarus needs to appreciate Russia's assistance

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on 14 January commented on the financial assistance that Russia has rendered Belarus over the years. "We have basically been helping [Belarus], by taking money from our economy. This should be appreciated when talking about the relations of the allies,” the Russian news agency TASS quotes Mr Medvedev as saying.

КBelarus seeks compensation from Russian for the losses due to the oil tax maneuver in Russia. President Lukashenka said recently that from 2015 when Russian began to implement the maneuver gradually Belarus has lost $3.6 billion and may lose another $10.6 billion by 2025.

Dmitry Medvedev said that Russia never promised anyone to compensate the revenues lost do the tax maneuver, including the ‘closest countries.’

Prime Minister Medvedev estimated Russia’s loans to Belarus in amount of over $6.5 billion, not including the loan to build a nuclear power plant in Astraviec.