Lukashenka Calls Gazprom Price Rise 'Blackmail'

Alyaksandr Lukashenka (file photo) (RFE/RL)

December 29, 2006 -- Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka today said Belarus will not give in to what he called "blackmail" by Russia's state-run gas monopoly Gazprom.

The gas giant is threatening to cut gas supplies to Belarus on January 1 if Minsk doesn't meet a new rate of $105 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas -- more than twice what Belarus currently pays.

A delegation from Belarus was due to hold last-minute negotiations on the gas dispute in Moscow today.

(Reuters)