Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko said Friday that he was prepared to put potash miner Belaruskali up for international tender, and that he valued the firm at a minimum of $30 billion.
"If nobody buys it at this price [$30 billion], we will not be concerned. We will never give up control over it," Lukashenko said. Belarus has long been under pressure to sell Belaruskali as it tries to recover from the financial crisis but has yet to take any practical steps toward it.
Meanwhile, EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg on Monday will add 16 names to a list of Belarussian officials targeted by asset freezes and travel bans and discuss extending such steps to some Belarussian businesses, EU diplomats and officials said. The sanctions will bring the number of officials in Belarus targeted by EU sanctions to more than 200.
(Reuters)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
