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Vladimir Putin Throws A Lifeline To Belarusian President

MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

Russian President Vladimir Putin has thrown something of a lifeline to the president of Belarus. Alexander Lukashenko has faced mass protests since last month's disputed presidential election, a vote that protesters say he rigged. Charles Maynes reports from Moscow.

CHARLES MAYNES, BYLINE: Lukashenko arrived today in the Russian city of Sochi, seeking much-needed Russian support.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: (Chanting in Russian).

MAYNES: For the past four weeks, Belarusians have taken to the streets, demanding his resignation with a crowd of over 100,000 again swamping downtown Minsk on Sunday. In remarks before cameras, the leaders' body language told the story - Lukashenko, leaning hard and Putin's direction, repeatedly wiping his brow. Putin leaned back in his chair and suggested the political crisis in Belarus was an internal affair for the time being.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

VLADIMIR PUTIN: (Speaking Russian).

MAYNES: We want Belarusians themselves, without prompting and pressure from outside, to sort out the situation in a calm manner, said Putin.

YAUHENI PREIHERMAN: You know, everyone understands that Moscow has now become the kingmaker in the context of this political crisis.

MAYNES: That's analyst Yauheni Preiherman in Minsk. He says Putin is offering only limited aid to Lukashenko for now - a $1.5 billion loan for Belarus' struggling economy. Also, Russian paratroopers will take part in exercises in Belarus this week. But Preiherman says Moscow is aware too tight a Kremlin embrace of Lukashenko risks alienating Belarusians who, until now, haven't been trying to pull out of Russia's orbit. Indeed, today Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Lukashenko's opponent in the August election, said Putin had chosen dialogue with a dictator over the Belarusian people. For NPR News, I'm Charles Maynes in Moscow.

(SOUNDBITE OF TYCHO'S "SOURCE") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.