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Belarus is being forced to close its borders with Poland and Lithuania, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said on Thursday, also announcing a tightening of border controls with Ukraine, Reuters and DPA reported.
Announcing the closure of Belarus’ western border with the two EU member states, Lukashenko, 66, said: “We are forced to withdraw troops from the streets.” At a women’s forum in Minsk on Thursday, the Belarusian president told the people of the three neighboring countries: “Stop the stupid politicians, don’t let them start a war!”
This statement comes when the political crisis does not weaken in the former Soviet republic, which has faced a widespread popular protest movement since the presidential elections on August 9.
Rejected by the opposition, prompting a rigged consultation, the election led to the reconfirmation of the mandate of Alexander Lukashenko, who had been in power since 1994. in Minsk.
EU Warning
The EU announced Tuesday, through the head of European diplomacy, quoted by France Presse, that it does not recognize Lukashenko as Belarusian president. “We consider that the August 9 elections are fraudulent and we do not recognize Lukashenko as the legitimate president of Belarus,” said Josep Borrell of Spain during a debate in the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels.
“We are in the process of sanctioning a significant number of those responsible for violence, repression and falsification of electoral results,” added the official.
“These sanctions should be adopted before the European Council on September 24-25 in Brussels if we want to maintain European credibility,” he said. The decision should be made at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels next Monday, AFP said. “We want a solution that allows sanctions against Turkey and Belarus at the same rate,” he said.
