Belarus Opposition Head Urges G8 To Block Russia Union

Belarusian opposition leader Alyaksandr Milinkevich (file photo) (RFE/RL)

July 12, 2006 -- Belarusian opposition leader Alyaksandr Milinkevich has sent a letter to Group of Eight leaders ahead of this weekend's summit in St. Petersburg, asking them to help block plans for a union between Belarus and Russia.

In an interview published in Russia's "Nezavisimaya gazeta," Milinkevich predicted that a referendum on uniting the former Soviet nations could soon be held in Belarus, and that Minsk risks being illegally annexed to Moscow.

(AP)