Russian and Belarusian army chiefs discuss joint military drills in Belarus – RIA

MOSCOW, Sept 2- The chiefs of staff of the Russian and Belarusian armies discussed preparations for a joint military drill in Belarus this year by telephone on Wednesday, the RIA news agency cited the Belarusian Defence Ministry as saying. Russia and Belarus are close allies. The discussions come amid rising tensions in Belarus, where huge nationwide street…

MOSCOW, Sept 2 (Reuters) – The chiefs of staff of the

Russian and Belarusian armies discussed preparations for a joint

military drill in Belarus this year by telephone on Wednesday,

the RIA news agency cited the Belarusian Defence Ministry as

saying.

Russia and Belarus are close allies. The discussions comeamid rising tensions in Belarus, where huge nationwide streetprotests have raised the biggest challenge yet to PresidentAlexander Lukashenko’s 26-year rule.(Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; writing by Tom Balmforth;Editing by Kevin Liffey)