Russia to lend Belarus $1.5bn as Lukashenko tells Putin 'a friend is in trouble'

Belarusian president flies to Sochi for talks with Russian leader after month of protests

The embattled Belarusian president, Alexander Lukashenko, held lengthy talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Monday, in a meeting seen as crucial to determining whether or not Lukashenko can survive a protest movement against him.

The pair met at Putin's residence in Sochi, the first foreign trip Lukashenko has made since protests began a month ago.