Putin, Lukashenko to hold extended talks on 22 February - Peskov
<p> MINSK, Feb 18 - PrimePress. Russian and Belarusian presidents Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko will hold a lengthy meeting on February 22, 2021, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on February 18. </p> <p> </p> <p> “The meeting will be next week, it will be on February 22. The two presidents will meet, we can expect very lengthy talks,” the TASS news agency quoted Peskov as saying. </p> <p> </p> <p> He said the agenda for the talks includes bilateral relations and an exchange of views on international issues. Peskov said that Lukashenko “must have something to inform the Russian president, since the All-Belarusian People's Congress has just been completed”. </p> <p> </p> <p> According to the Interfax news agency, Peskov admitted that Putin and Lukashenko would discuss the case of Viktor Babariko. </p> <p> </p> <p> When asked to comment on Minsk’s statements that the case related to some "Kremlin puppet masters," the Russian presidential spokesman promised to study the statements. "If there indeed were such statements, then [the Russian and Belarusian presidents] will have a chance to discuss this, among other things, at a meeting on February 22," Peskov noted. </p> <p> </p> <p> In his words, former head of Belgazprombank Viktor Babariko’s trial is Belarus’ domestic affair and Russia has no plans to interfere in it. </p> <p> </p> <p> On February 17, the Belarusian Supreme Court rejected an appeal filed by Babariko’s defence team, which called for replacing custody with a softer restrictive measure. </p> <p> </p> <p> As previously reported, Viktor Babariko was chairman of the board of Belgazprombank from July 2000 until 12 May 2020. He decided to run for president of Belarus in the spring of 2020 and was arrested in June. </p> <p> </p> <p> Former head of Belgazprombank Viktor Babariko was charged with gross bribe taking in an organized group and legalization (laundering) of funds obtained by criminal means (sections 430.3 and 235.2 of the Criminal Code of Belarus). </p> <p> </p> <p> In June 2020, the State Control Committee of Belarus alleged the possible involvement of the Russia’s Gazprom, which owns Belgazprombank, in Babariko's criminal activities. Peskov said then that large Russian companies, including Gazprom, are under state protection and the allegations against them should be supported with evidence. The Supreme Court of Belarus started hearing Babariko’s case on 17 February 2021. End </p>
2021-02-19
Primepress
Putin, Lukashenko to hold extended talks on 22 February - Peskov
MINSK, Feb 18 - PrimePress. Russian and Belarusian presidents Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko will hold a lengthy meeting on February 22, 2021, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on February 18.
“The meeting will be next week, it will be on February 22. The two presidents will meet, we can expect very lengthy talks,” the TASS news agency quoted Peskov as saying.
He said the agenda for the talks includes bilateral relations and an exchange of views on international issues. Peskov said that Lukashenko “must have something to inform the Russian president, since the All-Belarusian People's Congress has just been completed”.
According to the Interfax news agency, Peskov admitted that Putin and Lukashenko would discuss the case of Viktor Babariko.
When asked to comment on Minsk’s statements that the case related to some "Kremlin puppet masters," the Russian presidential spokesman promised to study the statements. "If there indeed were such statements, then [the Russian and Belarusian presidents] will have a chance to discuss this, among other things, at a meeting on February 22," Peskov noted.
In his words, former head of Belgazprombank Viktor Babariko’s trial is Belarus’ domestic affair and Russia has no plans to interfere in it.
On February 17, the Belarusian Supreme Court rejected an appeal filed by Babariko’s defence team, which called for replacing custody with a softer restrictive measure.
As previously reported, Viktor Babariko was chairman of the board of Belgazprombank from July 2000 until 12 May 2020. He decided to run for president of Belarus in the spring of 2020 and was arrested in June.
Former head of Belgazprombank Viktor Babariko was charged with gross bribe taking in an organized group and legalization (laundering) of funds obtained by criminal means (sections 430.3 and 235.2 of the Criminal Code of Belarus).
In June 2020, the State Control Committee of Belarus alleged the possible involvement of the Russia’s Gazprom, which owns Belgazprombank, in Babariko's criminal activities. Peskov said then that large Russian companies, including Gazprom, are under state protection and the allegations against them should be supported with evidence. The Supreme Court of Belarus started hearing Babariko’s case on 17 February 2021. End