The European Union and the rest of the world cannot allow a cartel to be formed amongst leading national gas producers, as the creation of such a group would do nothing to prohibit the use of natural gas as a political weapon in the future.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Resurgence in need of restraint

Mr Lukashenka has also sabotaged the customs union with Kazakhstan and Russia, demanding that Russia scrap its export duty on oil and oil products, which would allow Belarus to buy them at Russia's domestic prices and to re-export them at a profit. (Russia wants to keep oil out of the union for now.) Russia's response is to reach for its favourite weapon: the gas taps.

ECONOMIST: Russia and its neighbourhood

Mr Timoney said that a tear gas canister could be a lethal weapon but it was not intended to be used that way.

BBC: Bahraini dies after being struck by tear gas canister