BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

12/05/2006

Gazprom to Belarus: Price will triple

MINSK, Belarus, May 12 (UPI) -- The Kremlin is ending subsidies of Belarusian imports of Russian natural gas, Kommersant reported Friday.

OAO Gazprom has rejected requests by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to maintain discounts on natural gas. Gazprom says market rates will kick in next year, virtually tripling Belarus' costs.

Also, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently ordered an end of subsidies to the Belarusian economy. That move threatens the Lukashenko regime with serious upheaval unless he agrees to the formation of a union state on Moscow's terms.

Source:

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060512-102656-2542r