Kudrin: We may limit loan support to Belarus

The Russian Minister of Finance made a statement concerning imposing restrictions on Russian media in Belarus.

“The Government of the Russian Federation is concerned about the measures taken by the Belarusian administration in relation to regulations and restrictions concerning the Russian mass media,” the Russian Minister of Finance, Alyaksei Kudrin, told journalists on Thursday.

He emphasized that the Russian cabinet of ministers cannot ignore these cases if they take place there.

“Then we watch decrease in free speech, disrespect or unfriendly steps in relation to the Russian media. Unfortunately, we must take all these things into consideration when granting loans. If we see these restrictive measures repeating during the nearest months, of course, we will reserve the right to take measures to limit loan support to Belarus,” Kudrin said, RIA Novosti informs.

We remind that Alyaksandr Lukashenka said earlier he was ready to close down offices of all Russian media in Belarus because they cover the economic crisis in the country. News items on Russian TV channels criticizing the Belarusian authorities are being cut from air in the last few years. Most of Russian print media are not sold in Belarus. The number of deportations of Russian journalists with a ban to visit Belarus has recently increased.