MINSK, June 17 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Gazprom has demanded that Belarusian state company Beltransgaz pay off its $231 million debt for natural gas supplies by June 23, the Russian embassy in Minsk said on Wednesday.

"Gazprom has sent a letter requesting payment of the outstanding debt for the January-May period," an official at embassy told RIA Novosti.

He said the figure did not include fines.

"In its letter, Gazprom asks that the debt be paid in full and in a timely manner by June 23," he said.

The debt accumulated due to Belarus's payment of the so-called average annual price of $100 per 1,000 cu m of gas, which differed from the contract price of $250 per 1,000 cu m for the first six months of the year.