Putin offers Belarus a $3bn bail-out

Vladimir Putin, Russia’s Prime Minister, offered Belarus on the 19 May 2011 about $3bn in loans over three years from the Eurasian Economic Community, in return for undertaking economic reforms and privatising state companies – which could see Russia take controlling stakes in strategic assets such as oil refineries and pipelines.

ESO: Background information: EU fine-tuning next round of Belarus sanctions http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-fine-tuning-next-round-of-belarus-sanctions/

BBC News, 20.5.11: Belarus 'to get Russian bail-out' worth $3bn http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13462560

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