Relations between Russia and Belarus have been strained in recent months and analysts have warned that the re-election last month of Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko could lead to a more assertive stance from Minsk.
"The increase in price was agreed with the Belarussian side at the end of December," Transneft spokesman Igor Dyomin told Reuters.
"We agreed to this increase because in Belarus there was a sharp increase in the cost of electricity."
The
