Lukashenko: The Belarusian people demand that Russia support Belarus, not bully and pressure it
MINSK. Sept 6 (Interfax) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko demands that Russia support the republic in difficult times, not bully or pressure it.
"The people of Belarus will not betray our elder brother [Russia]. But we demand that our elder brother be our elder brother. They should support us during difficult times, not bully or pressure us," Lukashenko was quoted as saying by the state agency BelTA in Brest on Friday.
Belarusians and Russians are one people, the president said. "I have said a thousand times. They are our people, our brothers. We have always been together, they have always supported us," he said.
"The problems we sometimes have with Russia are not problems with Russian people or with Russians," Lukashenko said. "They are very good to us. Why should we be negative about them, turn away, betray them, as some people say? It's never going to happen. That won't happen even after I am gone," the president said.