Sunday 8 September 2013

Presidents, Oligarchs and Potash: Russia’s Trade War With Belarus · Global Voices

Presidents, Oligarchs and Potash: Russia’s Trade War With Belarus · Global Voices:

"
Kerimov meets with President Lukashenko in March 2013. YouTube screenshot.
At first glance, there are no truer friends than Russia and Belarus. The two states are united by a common history and have strong ethnic and linguistic links. Russia has long subsidized her neighbor with cheap oil and gas, which has kept Belarus’ Soviet-era manufacturing industry from keeling over. For Russia's Vladimir Putin, Belarus is a key linchpin in a new “Customs Union“, a geopolitical block he hopes can become a major, Russian-led, international force."

'via Blog this'

No comments:

Post a Comment