MINSK — The Belarussian government has instructed the country's Energy Ministry to submit proposals on reducing natural gas imports and increasing purchases of electric power from Russia and Ukraine, a state-agency source told Interfax.
This is a response to prices for energy resources moving in different directions, this source said. "Since Gazprom answered with a rejection to the Belarussian government's request that gas prices be 'frozen' this year, the import of gas for the energy system will decrease. The consumption of imported electric energy will increase in substitution," he said, adding that this decision will also help in the foreign trade deficit.
(Interfax)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
![paiment methods](https://static.themoscowtimes.com/img/contribute/payment_icons.png)
Remind me later.