Updated at 17:53,27-03-2024

Lukashenka To Attend Chavez Funeral

RFE/RL

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s office says he is traveling to Caracas to take part in the funeral of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

In a press statement, Lukashenka’s office said he would attend the March 8 funeral despite other events on his calendar.

Lukashenka has canceled all public events planned for March 8 to mark International Women’s Day.

Belarus also has declared a three-day mourning period for Chavez, who Caracas said had died earlier this week after suffering from cancer.

Chavez and Lukashenka had good relations, with the Venezuelan president visiting Belarus several times to sign oil and natural-gas agreements.

Minsk Mayor Mikalay Ladutska has proposed that one of the streets in the Belarusian capital should be renamed after Chavez.