Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko (R) meet in Minsk, 14 December 2007. As the two began talks, Lukashenko, who is a virtual pariah in the West and subject to European Union sanctions, played down media speculation that they would take steps toward a long-delayed plan on merging Belarus with its giant ally Russia. Getty Images logo Getty Images 50 months ago

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko (R) meet in Minsk, 14 December 2007. As the two began talks, Lukashenko, who is a virtual pariah in the West and subject to European Union sanctions, played down media speculation that they would take steps toward a long-delayed plan on merging Belarus with its giant ally Russia.

More Photos of

Explore Photos of Related Topics

Recent Photos From The Wire

  1. CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 15: Hashim Amla of South Africa bats while Reece Young of the Wizards looks on during the friendly Twenty20 match between the Christchurch Wizards and South Africa at Hagley Oval on February 15, 2012 in Christchurch, New Zealand.
  2. CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 15: Matt Henry of the Wizards appeals for the wicket of Hashim Amla of South Afrtica during the friendly Twenty20 match between the Christchurch Wizards and South Africa at Hagley Oval on February 15, 2012 in Christchurch, New Zealand.
  3. CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 15: Members of the South African team stand for a minute's silence for victims of the Canterbury earthquakes at the start of the friendly Twenty20 match between the Christchurch Wizards and South Africa at Hagley Oval on February 15, 2012 in Christchurch, New Zealand.
  4. British actor Jude Law waves at a press conference ahead of the Japanese premiere of his latest film 'Sherlock Holmes, A Game of Shadows' in Tokyo on February 15, 2012. The movie will open in Japan on March 10.
  5. CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 15: Matt McEwan (L) and Tim Johnston of the Wizards leave the field after the friendly Twenty20 match between the Christchurch Wizards and South Africa at Hagley Oval on February 15, 2012 in Christchurch, New Zealand.
  6. CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 15: Morne Morkel of South Africa throws at the stumps during the friendly Twenty20 match between the Christchurch Wizards and South Africa at Hagley Oval on February 15, 2012 in Christchurch, New Zealand.
  7. Chinese President Hu Jintao, right, shakes hands with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, center, while European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso looks on during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012.
  8. Activists of Movement for People's Struggle hold placards as they stage a silent protest outside a court complex in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012. Family members and human rights activists appealed to the Supreme Court to help find two missing human rights activists whom it fears are being detained by the government. Placard on right reads "Ensure the lives of people in north".
  9. Currency traders work under a screen indicating the exchange rate, above, of the U.S. dollar against Japanese yen and the Nikkei 225 index, at a foreign exchange firm in Tokyo, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012. The dollar was at a three-month high against the Japanese yen after the Bank of Japan said it would increase its economic stimulus program as Asian stock markets surged Wednesday after Greece indicated a willingness to commit to spending cuts to secure its bailout.
  10. Currency traders work under a screen indicating the Nikkei 225 stock average at a foreign exchange firm in Tokyo, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012. Asian stock markets surged Wednesday after Greece indicated a willingness to commit to spending cuts to secure its bailout and moves by Japan's central bank to support the economy lifted its powerhouse export sector.
  11. A Sri Lankan lawyer walks past family members of missing human rights defenders Lalith Kumar Weeraraju and Kugan Muruganandan, along with activists from the organization Movement for People's Struggle during a silent protest outside a court complex in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012 . Family members and human rights activists appealed to the Supreme Court to help find the two missing human rights activists whom they fear are being detained by the government. The placards read "Free Lalith and Kugan! Stop Abductions in North!" in Sinhalese and Tamil languages.
  12. A young North Korean figure skater performs to the song Our Father is Marshal Kim Jong Il at the opening ceremony of the 21st Paektusan Prize International Figure Skating Festival in Pyongyang, North Korea, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012. The festival attracted international skaters including Chinese 2010 Winter Olympic gold medalists Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo and three-time world champion Russian Evgeny Plyushchenko.
  13. Spanish police general director Ignacio Cosido, Spain's Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz, Serbian ambassador to Spain Jela Bacovic and Spanish chief police for the unit of violent crimes Serafin Castro Frias (L-R) attend a news conference in Madrid February 13, 2012. Spanish police have arrested Vladimir Milisavljevic, who had been at large since his conviction for the 2003 assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, the Interior Ministry said on Friday. In a raid on a restaurant in eastern city Valencia on Thursday, police also detained Luka Bojovic, a major player in the Balkan criminal underworld, and Sinisa Petric, also known as "Baku", and described by the Ministry as Bojovic's "chief executor".
  14. Oman's Fatma Al Nabhani serves the ball to Shuai Peng of China during their Qatar Open tennis tournament in Doha February 13, 2012.
  15. Spanish police officers stand next to weapons and artefacts confiscated from members of the Balkan criminal underworld after a news conference in Madrid February 13, 2012. Spanish police have arrested Vladimir Milisavljevic, who had been at large since his conviction for the 2003 assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, the Interior Ministry said on Friday. In a raid on a restaurant in eastern city Valencia on Thursday, police also detained Luka Bojovic, a major player in the Balkan criminal underworld, and Sinisa Petric, also known as "Baku", and described by the Ministry as Bojovic's "chief executor".
  16. People examine a damaged Israeli embassy car after an explosion in New Delhi February 13, 2012. Bombers targeted staff at Israel's embassies in India and Georgia on Monday, the foreign ministry said, with a bomb going off in New Delhi but a second device in Tbilisi was defused.