Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has denied holding fresh elections in an interview with Russian media. Meanwhile, the country's opposition leader has called for sanctions against the government.
President Alexander Lukashenko
acknowledged on Tuesday that he had spent too much time in office, but said he was
still the only person who could protect Belarus.
The 66-year-old leader, who has been in
power since 1994, said the controversial presidential vote could be
re-discussed only after constitutional reforms, without giving further details.
According to the Interfax news agency,
Lukashenko was quoted’ as saying, "We are ready to amend the constitution
so that I do not rule out early presidential elections."
However, Lukashenko said he would refuse
to talk to opposition politicians after EU governments called for
"talks".
Interfax said the Belarusian leader told a
Moscow radio station that he would not speak to the opposition's liaison
council "because I do not know who they are."
Tsikhanouskaya called for sanctions
Lukashenko's rival in the disputed August
9 election, exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, on Tuesday
called for sanctions against the president and his aides.
In a speech via video link to the European
Council, a European human rights organization based in Strasbourg, France, a
non-EU organization, Tsikhanouskaya said, "Now my country, my nation, my
people need help. ۔ "
"We need international pressure on
this government, one of which is fiercely clinging to power," he said.
"We need sanctions against those who issue and carry out criminal orders
in violation of international norms and human rights."
Tsikhanouskaya, 37, fled Belarus to
Lithuania after running in last month's election for fear of his safety.
He claimed victory in the referendum, with
the opposition accusing him of widespread fraud.
But in Belarus, election officials say
Lukashenko won more than 80 percent of the vote.
Weeks of mass protests
Protesters have taken to the streets
across the country over the past month to protest against Lukashenko. More than
7,000 people have been arrested’ amid widespread reports of police brutality
and violence.
Last month, the European Union said the
election was "neither free nor fair." The foreign ministers of 27
countries agreed to introduce sanctions against those responsible for the
violence and alleged electoral fraud.
The bloc's foreign policy chief, Joseph
Borrell, has called for the immediate release of protesters and political
prisoners.
READ MORE
0 Comments