The integration of Russia and Belarus will be accepted only on a reciprocal basis. This was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, October 29.
“Without any doubt, this should be done, if something is done, exclusively on a voluntary basis on our own and on the part of our Belarusian friends and partners, based on how both sides assess their national interests in one area or another, in in the sphere of politics or in the sphere of economics, “Putin said at the Russia Calling! forum.
In addition, the Russian leader spoke about the current political situation in Belarus. In particular, he noted that the issue of the possible holding of new presidential elections in the republic should be decided by the citizens of this country.
According to Putin, at the moment it would be right for all political forces in Belarus to get involved in the process of resolving the situation in the republic and possible changes to the constitution.
He added that President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko made a significant step towards his opponents when he announced the possibility of constitutional reform in the country.
Last week, Lukashenko, during a meeting with the head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergei Naryshkin, said that at the moment a difficult situation is developing around the Union State.
At the end of September, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that unprecedented external pressure is being put on Belarus, but relations between Moscow and Minsk are not subject to either time or conjuncture.
Presidential elections were held in Belarus on August 9. According to the Central Election Commission, Lukashenka won. After that, mass protests began in the country. The European Union negatively perceived the actions of the security forces at the rallies and applied sanctions against the current government in the republic. The Kremlin has repeatedly stressed that the situation in Belarus is an internal affair of the state.