29/06/2011 11:11
Russia cuts off electricity supply to Belarus
Russia cut off electricity supplies to Belarus at midnight on Wednesday until Belarus fully repays its 1.2-billion ruble ($43 million) debt, Russia's electricity export monopoly Inter RAO said.
Russia has prolonged until Tuesday evening the deadline for Belarus to pay off its electricity debt for April and May, threatening to cut off supplies if it does not, but no payment has been made, ITAR-TASS said.
Belarus meets about 10 percent of its electricity needs through Inter RAO supplies.
The Belarusian electricity debt occurred because of the currency crisis which is hampering all transactions with foreign partners.