Credit: youtube /thenational /  Nearly 7,000 protesters have been arrested amid post-election crackdown by Belarus officials. Protesters reported being beaten and tortured. 

By Gary Raynaldo      DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

The European Union is preparing to impose new sanctions against Belarusian officials following the brutal post-election crackdown on demonstrators.  EU foreign ministers from the bloc’s 27 states held an emergency video meeting Friday  to review former restrictions against Belarus’ leadership that the EU removed in 2016, citing progress in improving the rule of law. The sanctions had targeted arms companies, frozen assets and implemented travel bans. Nearly 7,000 people were arrested since Sunday’s disputed presidential election. Protesters reported being beaten and tortured.  Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, called for more sanctions.

We need additional sanctions against those who violated democratic values or abused human rights in #Belarus.

I am confident today’s EU Foreign Ministers’ discussion will demonstrate our strong support for the rights of the people in Belarus to fundamental freedoms & democracy.

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) August 14, 2020

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, convened the Friday video conference meeting with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the 27 EU Member States. 

“Ministers reiterated their repeated call to the Belarusian authorities to stop the disproportionate and unacceptable violence against peaceful protesters. The EU expects the authorities to release immediately all unlawfully detained persons. In light of shocking reports of inhumane treatment and detention conditions, the European Union expects a thorough and transparent investigation into all alleged abuses, in order to hold those responsible to account. Ministers also agreed on the need to sanction those responsible for violence, repression and the falsification of election results. The work on additional listings within the existing sanctions framework for Belarus will start immediately.”

-Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Belarus Opposition Leader Tsikhanouskaya Calls for More Protests  

Credit: Wikipedia /  Belarus Opposition challenger Svetlana Tikhanovskaya 

Belarus Opposition Leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has called for more protests and an election recount, turning up  the heat on authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko as he faces the biggest challenge in his 26 years in power. Belarus main opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya  has fled the country in the aftermath of Sunday’s disputed presidential elections.  Tikhanovskaya fled Belarus and is in Lithuania after she asserted that the re-election of incumbent President  Lukashenko  was fraudulent.    Longtime President Lukashenko won 80.23% of the vote, with rival challenger  Tikhanovskaya receiving 9.9%.  Critics  immediately denounced Lukashenko’s landslide victory as being rigged and mass protests erupted with thousands taking to the streets of capital city Minsk and across the country to vent frustration.