Belarus’ president says he doesn’t want Russian air base

Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Tuesday his country did not need a Russian military base, appearing to make a rare concession to public protests before this weekend’s presidential election.

“We don’t need a base today”, Mr Lukashenko was quoted as saying by Belarusian media on Tuesday. I don’t know anything about it.

“I feel surprised and, to a few extent, angry and annoyed by that”, he said.

Russian Federation already has a radar system and a navy communications facility in its ex-Soviet ally, but an air base would present a major boost to its military presence in the neighboring state.

The Belarusian president was speaking two days after a few 500 opposition activists rallied in central Minsk against the establishment of such a base. The two countries have close political, economic and military ties, and Belarus depends on Russian energy and other subsidies.

The European Council, which represents EU governments, froze Chyzh’s assets and those of his company and the soccer club in 2012, part of sanctions on more than 200 people targeted because of Belarus’s poor record on human rights under Lukashenko and the stifling of the political opposition.

The Kremlin had no immediate comment on the statement by Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus since 1994 and is certain to win a fifth term in Sunday’s election against token challengers.