Pushing For Resignation Through Larger Demonstrations, Belarusian President Lukashenko Meets Putin Asking For Support

JAKARTA - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko arrived in Russia to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. Lukashenko's aim at meeting Putin is to ask Russia for support after five consecutive weeks of massive protests demanding his resignation.

Flight tracking data showed Lukashenko's plane landed in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. In this place Putin often plays host to important guests who are visiting Moscow.

The fate of the Belarusian leader is in Putin's hands as he faces the worst crisis in his 26 years in power. Economic and military support from Russia can help strike a balance in its favor as its security forces crack down on the opposition.

The Belarusian opposition has accused Lukashenko of rigging the presidential elections held in August. But according to Lukashenko, he won fairly with 80 percent of the vote. Since then, thousands of people have been arrested and nearly all of the main opposition leaders have been detained, deported or forced to leave Belarus.

Previously the leader of the Belarusian opposition, Maria Kolesnikova, was reportedly kidnapped by an unknown person for deportation to Ukraine. Preventing her deportation, Kolesnikova tore up her passport. Kolesnikova was a key figure behind weeks of protests against the election of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

At least one hundred thousand protesters took to the streets in the city of Minsk on Sunday 13 September. They mocked and made fun of Lukashenko with shouts of "You rat." Police say they have detained 774 people at protests across the country.

Putin's actions so far show he has no desire to see Lukashenko toppled by pressure from the streets. This is because Lukashenko has proven to be a formidable and difficult ally.

Putin said last month that he had formed a "reserve police force" at Lukashenko's request, although it would be deployed only when needed. Russia will soon send paratroopers to Belarus for military exercises with the "Slavic brothers" until September 25. Russia has also offered to restructure Belarusian debt and support the banking system.

Belarus is the former Soviet Union with the closest political, social, economic and defense ties to Russia. The two countries even proclaimed a "united state" in the 1990s, complete with a Soviet red flag.

Further support from Russia for Belarus could be Lukashenko's acceptance of greater Russian dominance. Russia has long pushed for closer integration, including a joint currency. Lukashenko has resisted some of the steps, and has had difficult personal relationships with Putin.

But the position of the Belarusian leader could become even more precarious if the protests continue. The demonstration on Sunday 13 September was one of the biggest.

"We have to show with this march that he does not control the country, that he is not in a position to speak on behalf of Belarus," said Gennady, a logistics worker who declined to give his full name.