Credit: Wikipedia /  Flag of the  Republic of Germany

By Gary Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

Germany  summoned the Belarusian ambassador in its country Denis Sidorenko for urgent talks amid President Alexander Lukashenko’s disputed re-election. The summons came ahead of an emergency meeting last Friday by European Union  foreign ministers from the bloc’s 27 states  to review former restrictions against Belarus’ leadership the EU removed in 2016. Sources said Berlin relayed its strong opposition to the violence committed by government forces against protesters in Belarus.  German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told reporters after video talks held by EU foreign ministers the EU  is set to impose new sanctions targeting Belarusian officials responsible for the brutal crackdown in Belarus.  Germany currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU.  Nearly 7,000 people were arrested since Sunday’s disputed presidential election. Protesters reported being beaten and tortured. 

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.