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Russia cuts power supply to Belarus at midnight

29 June 2011 12:21 (UTC +04:00)

Baku - APA-Economics. The Russian energy company Inter RAO UES is suspending power supplies to Belarus as of Midnight 29 June, a spokesman for Russia’s electricity export monopoly said on Tuesday. Russia will cut off electricity supplies until Belarus repays its 1.2-billion ruble (43 million EUR) debt.

Minsk left unanswered the numerous warnings and failed to pay off its debt by the deadline of 8.30 a.m. on 28 June, the news service Voice of Russia reports. According to Inter RAO UES, power supply will be cut short as of midnight 29 June.

Minsk says its debt has been caused by the current financial crisis in Belarus. The country has a problem to convert its domestic currency into international currency, which would be accepted by Russia.