Russian President Dmitry Medvedev congratulated the newly elected President of the Republic of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, the press service of the Belarusian head of state reported. "I wish you success, and peace and prosperity to the brotherly people of Belarus," press service of Alexander Lukashenko quoted text of the greetings.
According to Telegraf, the Belarusian state media announced in the evening of December 22 on the fact that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had congratulated his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko on his victory at the presidential elections. Meanwhile, the official websites of the heads of Belarus and Russia lacked any information about this fact at 11:44 on December 23.
In turn, Vice-Speaker of Russian State Duma Vladimir Zhirinovsky said that re-elected president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, hadn’t won the elections.
Vladimir Zhirinovsky also said that Russia had already taken its position. «Medvedev said nothing about him (about Lukashenko). This is the choice of Belarusians, so let Belarusians decide themselves. He literally meant:» Alexander, I do not accept your elections, I am ashamed of you, and it goes against us to deal with you.» That’s how I’d translate the words of our president — it is a choice of Belarusians — into a normal everyday language,» the Vice-Speaker of Russian State Duma said.
