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Updated July 1st, 2021 at 18:38 IST

Russian and Belarus leaders vow closer cooperation

The presidents of Russia and Belarus vowed Thursday to increase cooperation amid Western political and economic pressure in the wake of a crackdown on civil society following elections in Belarus last year.

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The presidents of Russia and Belarus vowed Thursday to increase cooperation amid Western political and economic pressure in the wake of a crackdown on civil society following elections in Belarus last year.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, together with top officials from both countries, made the statements at the 8th Forum of Regions of Russia and Belarus,  which was held via video conference.

"We will continue to provide comprehensive assistance to the brotherly Belarusian people in the current political situation, which is not easy given the unceasing political and sanctions pressure, and persistent attempts to destabilize the situation from abroad," said Putin at the forum.

He said Russia intends to continue integration processes with Belarus in the Union state, as well as within the Eurasian Economic Union and the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said his country would use the economic sanctions placed against it to its advantage.

"We won't merely survive the attacks against our countries, we will use this situation - as Russia did when sanctions were placed against it - to strengthen our economic cooperation, and make our countries absolutely independent, not only in the sphere of economics," he said.

The EU has gradually ratcheted up sanctions since Lukashenko – dubbed the last dictator in Europe – won a sixth term last August in elections it says were fraudulent.

But the 27-nation bloc has taken a harder approach since the Ryanair incident, and over the country's alleged use of migrants to pressure neighbouring Lithuania, which has provided a safe-haven to Belarusian opposition figures and is one of Lukashenko's most vocal critics.

 

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Published July 1st, 2021 at 18:38 IST

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