BELORUSIA

Morning paper news sport j2 money culture scene video subscription CRISIS IN BELARUS Putin's domestic journalists interviewed Lukashenko: Brother Vladimir, if I fall, Russia will fall too! He believes the opposition will destroy the state if he leaves power. He reiterated his claim that foreign forces were actually behind the protesters Writes: Jutarnji.hrPosted: September 08, 2020 10:21 pm Alexander Lukashenko with Russian journalists Alexander Lukashenko with Russian journalists Nikolay Petrov / Belta / Sputnik / Profime President Alexander Lukashenko told the nation in his first interview since mass protests against his regime in Belarus that he has no plans to step down, The Guardian reports. Lukashenko spoke with a group of Russian journalists who support Vladimir Putin , including RT editor Margarita Simonjan , and made it clear that he would fight to stay in power. - I will not allow everything we have created to be destroyed, said the authoritarian head of state who has been in power for 26 years. He also admitted that the period may be too long. - I have to admit that it is possible that I have been in the president's chair for maybe too long, he said. The Belarusian leader will go to Moscow next week for talks with Russian President Putin, who said he was ready to help his colleague militarily if necessary. It is increasingly relying on Russia, its main ally and economic partner, despite tensions between the two countries in recent years as the Kremlin has sought deeper economic and political integration with Belarus, which Lukashenko has so far opposed. Most of his messages he gave in the interview sound like he addressed them to Putin, not to his citizens.