"On the one hand, a single market is a good thing but, on the other hand, it seems to me that the Customs Union is a project of imperial ambitions, not economics. I think the price paid by Russia is too high," Nemtsov told Vilnius journalists on Thursday, commenting on the Kremlin's project of the Customs Union.
"For instance, I know how much Russia pays (Belarusian President Alexander) Lukashenko for his love. Russia's economy grants annual 6 billion US dollars to the Lukashenko regime. This includes crude supplies at a reduced price, as well as gas supplies. (...) Lukashenko is treating Russia as if it was a dairy cow. Over the 19 years of presidency, he has sucked out 100 billion US dollars from Russia. What is most important, the money did not go to the people of Belarus but to the KGB, special service, and reinforcement of his own administration," said Nemtsov, one of the leaders of the non-parliamentary Liberal party Parnas.
The Customs Union currently includes Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan.
