Belarus crowds rally against closer Russia ties

Minsk: Roughly 1,000 Belarusians joined an unauthorised demonstration on Saturday against the prospect of a closer union with Russia.
Long-time ruler Alexander Lukashenko was meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Russia on Saturday to discuss “key issues in our bilateral relations, including the prospects for deepening integration”, according to the Kremlin.
Angered by the potential deal, crowds of mostly young Belarusians headed towards the government headquarters in the capital Minsk carrying signs that read “it’s not integration, it’s an occupation” and “the president is selling our country”.
Many waved EU flags or those of the opposition. Police quickly intervened to oversee the demonstration but made no arrests.
The ex-Soviet republic formed a nominal union with Moscow in the 1990s, with close trade and military cooperation, but speculation has grown that Lukashenko intends to agree a formal unification of the two countries.
“It is forbidden to touch the country without the permission of the people,” said an opposition leader, Vladimir Neklyayev.