"You have an interest in these enterprises, you want to buy them out. I have an interest in oil production, for us to be able to produce on our own not 25 million tonnes [of oil annually] that we refine in Belarus, but at least 7-8-10 million tonnes [in Russia] and deliver to Belarus," Lukashenko told Russian media at a news conference in Minsk.
"When Bashneft was being privatized, I sent proposals to your government: we would exchange [the Belarusian] enterprises, on condition they operate better, for Bashneft shares that you passed or sold to [energy company] Rosneft. We have not received a response up until now," he said.
The Investigative Committee said the Bashneft deal was legal and undisputed, noting that the agreement is not under investigation.
