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London Stock Exchange under fire for financing Belarusian dictator

Exclusive: MPs call on British government to act over $1.25bn Belarusian bonds issued in London, demand review City financing for autocratic regimes

By Thomas Rowley and Peter Geoghegan
London Stock Exchange under fire for financing Belarusian dictator
Protesters in Minsk hold a banner reading: 'Fair elections. Tribunal. Freedom for political prisoners,' 16 August 2020 | CC BY SA 3.0 Homotrox / Wikipedia. Some rights reserved
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British MPs have urged the government to halt the Belarusian regime’s access to finance through the London Stock Exchange, openDemocracy can report today.

Belarus and its dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka are facing fresh sanctions after journalist Raman Pratasevich was taken off a diverted Ryanair plane by law enforcement in Minsk, leading to calls for the British government to curb Belarus’ ability to raise money in London.

Last June, the London Stock Exchange (LSE) “welcomed” the listing of Belarusian sovereign bonds worth $1.25bn (£800m).

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