Belarus president to visit Russia ahead of Victory Day celebrations

MINSK, May 7. /TASS/. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will pay a working visit to Russia on May 7-8, the presidential press service said on Thursday. "Alexander Lukashenko will take part in the informal meeting of the Council of Heads of States of the CIS members on May 8, and in the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council," the press service said. As part of the celebrations that take place these days on occasion of the 70th anniversary of Victory, the Belarusian president is due to lay a wreath to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Kremlin wall. Lukashenko said earlier he would not attend the Victory Day parade on May 9 in Moscow explaining that as a commander-in-chief, he will review troops at a parade on occasion of the 70th anniversary of Victory in Minsk. "We have our country and a big holiday like in Russia and unfortunately, this date is celebrated at this level only in two states," he told journalists. In late April, the Belarusian leader also said he did not support those politicians who had refused to be present at the Victory Day Parade in Moscow. Read more