With Belarus in Turmoil, Russia Sees Chance to Expand Its Influence

MOSCOW—As protests grew in Belarus in excess of the dealing with of the weekend’s presidential election, Russia moved quickly to congratulate President Alexander Lukashenko for his electoral get and press for stronger ties with its neighbor ahead of what is expected to be a next evening of protests.

Russia and Belarus are carefully connected by language and society. Belarus at the time was a Soviet point out and is strategically positioned in the middle of Japanese Europe, on Russia’s western flank. In the latest yrs, Mr. Lukashenko has sought a nearer connection…