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The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Borrell told the European Parliament that on August 9 elections in Belarus were rigged.
“It just came to our notice then. August 9, we consider the election to be unfair,” Borrell said.
“We do not recognize him as the legitimate president of Belarus,” he stressed.
The EU has previously said that it does not recognize Lukashenko’s re-election as legitimate and is preparing sanctions against those responsible for electoral fraud and the violent crackdown on protests. However, EU sanctions on Belarus are being blocked by Cyprus, which demands that action be taken first against Turkey for its exploration of natural gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean.
Borrell pointed out that the credibility of the EU was at stake and called on member states to adopt sanctions before the summit in Brussels late next week.
In Belarus, the mass protests have been alarming after the controversial presidential elections. The security forces are using brutal measures against the protesters.
According to Borrell, more than 7,500 peaceful protesters have been detained in Belarus and 500 cases of torture have been recorded.
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