Belarus criticizes Russian hike of oil export duties

Belarus’ Foreign Ministry on Thursday slammed Russia’s decision to hike customs duties on oil exports to Belarus, saying it violated bilateral agreements.

The decision Tuesday by the Russian Cabinet will sharply increase the price Belarus pays for Russian crude deliveries and comes amid a parallel effort by Moscow to sharply hike natural gas prices amid an escalating rift between the two ex-Soviet allies. Both moves will badly pinch Belarus’ Soviet-style, centrally-planned economy, which has relied on cheap energy from Russia.
International Herald Tribune