Russia reaffirms $ 500 million loan to Belarus as West tightens sanctions on Europe News

Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko are holding a second day of talks in Sochi, as the US imposes sanctions for the hijacking scandal.

Russia has agreed to give Belarus a second $ 500 million loan to Moscow because it has increased its support for Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in the West over his anger at the base of a European passenger plane and the arrest of a dissident journalist.

The news of the grant was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin in a second-day talks with Lukashenko and offered a sailing tour at the Black Sea Sochi station on Saturday, after which his guest was informed.

The money is part of a $ 1.5 billion loan Russia has promised Belarus as part of Moscow’s efforts to stabilize its neighbor after mass protests last year against Lukashenko’s nearly three-decade rule.

Minsk received the first tranche of $ 500 million in October and will receive the second tranche before the end of June, the RIA news agency reported.

Putin and Lukashenko a two-day summit came as the European Union and the United States complained that Belarus had used the threat of a bomb bomb to land a Ryanair jet in Minsk. Belarusian authorities sent a fighter to fall on the plane before journalist Roman Protasevich and Russian citizen Sofia Sapega arrested his partner.

Both are in jail on charges of correcting massive incidents. Protasevich could face up to 15 years in prison.

Several European nations have imposed flight bans on Belarusian aviation, while the United States has “full blocking penalties“Nine Belarusian companies will enter into force on June 3. Washington also said it was working with the EU to make a list of specific sanctions against key members of Lukashenko’s government.

Putin has criticized the West’s response, and agreed with Lukashenko on Friday that the reaction was an “emotional explosion”.

According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Russia has also pledged to study increasing flights with Belarus to offset the impact of EU flight bans.

Putin and Lukashenko “discuss the organization of air traffic, considering the decision of many European authorities and airlines to cancel flights [Belarusian] airfield, and considering that Belavia is no longer welcome in European cities, “Peskov said.” The transport ministries of the two countries (Russia and Belarus) have been ordered to organize all aspects of air communication … as far as many Belarusians are concerned. “

Putin also raised the issue of Sapega, the Protasevich couple, Peskov said.

“At the initiative of the Russian president, the issue of the arrested Russian citizen was raised … Naturally, we are not indifferent to his fate,” Peskov said.

He added that the Kremlin would also consider Sapega’s residence permit in Belarus.

“Therefore, we start by saying that everything must be done within the law. The President has instructed the Russian Foreign Ministry to follow the case of the Russian citizens closely,” Peskov added.