[News] Belarus: Baltic states call for new 'transparent' election amid protests

[_Klay_]

 

The leaders of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have called on Belarus to hold "free and fair" elections following its disputed presidential vote.

In a joint statement, the three prime ministers called for a new election to be held with the involvement of international observers.

Mass protests erupted after President Alexander Lukashenko claimed a landslide victory in the 9 August vote.

The result has been condemned with widespread allegations of vote-rigging.

On Friday, European Union foreign ministers agreed to prepare new sanctions on Belarusian officials responsible "falsification". The US has also condemned the election as "not free and fair".

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The Central Election Commission says Mr Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, won 80.1% of the vote and the main opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya 10.12%.

But Ms Tikhanovskaya insists that where votes were properly counted, she won support ranging from 60% to 70%.

Protests against President Lukashenko continued on Saturday, with thousands turning out in the capital Minsk.

What did the Baltic leaders say?
In a joint statement on Saturday, the prime ministers of the three Baltic republics - Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia - "expressed deep concern at the violent crackdown... and the political repression of the opposition by the authorities".

The leaders said the presidential election was "neither free nor fair" and called for a "transparent" vote "with the participation of international observers".

"The prime ministers urge the Belarusian authorities to refrain from violence against peaceful demonstrators [and to] release all political prisoners and those that have been detained," the statement added.