BELARUS / IMF : 16 June UPDATE: IMF Tells Prez. Lukashenko: "Our Way...Or The Highway!"; Protest Smolders Over Butter

LINK CHANGE / 2:04 Euronews English report on protest and IMF demands... follows :30 advert


A small protest broke out...forcing the government to back down on a 30% fuel increase.

Europe's so-called "Last Dictator," President Alexander Lukashenko doesn't like to cede control of anything...to anyone.

But Belarus needs massive infusions of cash.
He is asking the IMF for its second bailout...in 2 years...as much as $7bn usd.

Now the IMF says that Lukashenko must agree to “structural reforms”...like letting its ruble trade freely, freezing government salaries, selling state assets and easing price controls...to qualify for more aid.

“It’s inevitable for Belarus to do the reform,” said a Danske Bank economist. “If they accept the IMF advice, their position will improve. The IMF would be a more benevolent companion” than Russia.