Belarus' leader accuses West of pressure

Belarus' autocratic leader Alexander Lukashenko Tuesday lashed out at what he called the West's "unprecedented pressure" against his regime but said that rising energy prices were also weighing on the isolated former Soviet nation. Lukashenko, who was re-elected to a third term in March polls condemned as fraudulent by the opposition and Western nations, has been slapped with EU and U.S. sanctions. He and other key government figures face the seizure of their assets and a visa ban.

Photo: Belarus' leader accuses West of pressure

But of more concern to Belarus is a move by its traditional ally Russia to triple the price of gas it supplies to Minsk, which would have a serious effect on the country's economy and likely weaken Lukashenko. About 75 percent of Belarus' economy is under state control, and the low prices that Russia has charged for oil and gas have been key to keeping the economy going.

"Two factors are weighing on Belarus the unprecedented pressure of the West...and the rise in world energy prices," Lukashenko said in a state-of-the-nation address. The Belarusian president said that his government would appeal to international courts, including the European Court of Human Rights, against the EU and U.S. travel bans. "What are the grounds for these restrictions? Is there some international court ruling that Belarusian officials are criminals? No, this is crystal clear," he said, adding that not a single minister had been involved in the election campaign, reports the AP.

N.U.