Lukashenko, Putin say Belarus’ problems to be resolved soon

The Belarusian and Russian presidents say the turmoil that has followed the recent presidential elections in the ex-Soviet republic will be remedied soon and not left out for exploitation by the parties that seek to poison the two countries’ relations.

Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin made the remarks during a phone call on Saturday, AFP reported.

"Both sides expressed confidence that all the problems that have arisen will be resolved soon," the Kremlin said in a statement, citing the heads of state as saying during the conversation.

Earlier this month, Lukashenko won Belarus’ presidential polls by a landslide, securing a sixth term in office.

Large-scale rioting ensued by, what he has called, people with criminal pasts and the unemployed.

Lukashenko's rival in the vote, 37-year-old Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, took a trip to neighboring Lithuania after the vote, citing “safety” concerns.

The European Union has threatened to re-impose sanctions against Minsk although Belarus is a non-member.

The United States has wasted no opportunity, in the meantime, to take Minsk to task too, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying during recent apparently interventionist remarks that Belarusians should be given "the freedoms that they are demanding."

Chairing a meeting in the capital on Wednesday, however, Lukashenko urged against continued violence, calling preservation of nationwide security in the country’s top priority.

The Belarusian president and his Russian counterpart also noted during the Saturday talk that "these problems should not be exploited by destructive forces seeking to harm the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries within the framework of the union state," Reuters reported, citing the same Kremlin statement.

MG