Boris Niemtsov: Farmer Lukashenka keeps on lying to Russia

Former vice prime minister of Russia Boris Niemtsov commented for charter97.org on the scandal around naphtha shipments to Belarus.

“The Russian powers fight against Lukashenka’s smuggling of Russian oil products to Western countries. As a result of this smuggling, the Russian budget looses huge money. Moreover, the smuggling gives Lukashenka economic independence. And Putin needs him to become completely dependable – while there is still an income to the budget. This is a war of positions. Lukashenka had obviously made promises that he didn’t keep. Soon he’ll go to Moscow to beg again, and Russia will give him all he wants. Everything just as usual. The farmer lies to Russia more than the rest of the world. Everyone knows that, but each time Lukashenka gets to trick them because they hope they can get some control over him,” co-chairperson of the Party of People’s Freedom Boris Niemtsov told charter97.org.

We remind that on 8 August the Russian railways blocked naphtha shipments to Belarus.

Russian naphtha (straight run petrol) is the basis for Belarusian production of dissolvent-diluent. This is transparent liquid produced from distillation of raw oil. Naphtha is used primarily as a raw material in the oil industry.

Charter97.org previously reported about the smuggling of recycled Russian oil by Belarusian oligarchs from Lukashenka’s close circles. They don’t pay customs fees to the Russian budget.