Lithuania fears Lukashenko will sign away Belarus independence to Russia

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko could be about to give away his country's independence by signing an agreement on deeper integration with Russia, Lithuania's foreign minister said on Monday. Russian President Vladimir Putin has for many years pushed for closer ties with Belarus under the auspices of a unified state, and raised the idea again last month. Lukashenko has in the past rejected such moves, accusing Russia of wanting to swallow up his country, but now faces protests and the threat of Western sanctions over an Aug. 9 presidential election which opponents say was rigged.