Russian electricity supplies to Belarus "not resumed"

Russian electricity supplies to Belarus, due to be resumed at midnight after Minsk paid off its 600 million ruble ($21.2mn) debt to Inter RAO, have not started, the Russian electricity export company reported. "Electricity supplies to Belarus have not been resumed," an Inter RAO spokesman told Russia''s News Agency (RIA Novosti). The company said the reasons for the failure to resume supplies are being specified. Belarus has been struggling to pay for electricity from Russia amid an economic crisis in the former Soviet republic that has left hard currency in short supply. Russia cut off deliveries on Tuesday evening after repeatedly extending the payment deadline.