Credit: ec.europa.eu/  Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission in Brussels,  Belgium

By Gary Raynaldo      DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

The European Union does not recognize the results the recent presidential election in  Belarus and stands strongly with the people demanding a peaceful transition of power. The EU said Wednesday it  set to impose sanctions on individuals in the Belarus government responsible for violence,  repression and election fraud.  The EU held  an emergency summit meeting Wednesday in Brussels of the EU’s  heads of state and government on the violent crackdown on anti-government protests in Belarus. 

“These elections were neither free nor fair and did not meet international standards. We don’t recognize the results presented by the Belarus authorities.  The people of Belarus deserve better.”

-Charles Michel, President of the European Council  said a presser after the meeting

The European Union stands in solidarity with the people of #Belarus. And we don't accept impunity.

The protests in Belarus are not about geopolitics. This is about the right of the People to freely elect their leadership.#EUCO pic.twitter.com/SAzeIq7T85

— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) August 19, 2020

 EU Commission President, Ursula Von der Leyen said:

“The people of Belarus want change and they want it now.  And we are pressed by the courage of the people of Belarus for exactly 10 days since presidential elections took place, the people of Belarus have taken to the streets in unprecedented number. They demand the release of all unlawful detained prisoners.  the prosecution of those responsible for police brutality, they want freedom of speech and assembly. And they want democracy and new presidential elections as these elections were neither fair nor free.”

Von der Leyen also said there was unanimous support for the EU “to be working on sanctions against those responsible for what is taking place.” She added:

“The EU believes that the results of the August 9 polls, which handed President Alexander Lukashenko his sixth term with 80% of the vote, “have been falsified,” and the 27-nation bloc is preparing a list of Belarus officials who could be blacklisted from Europe over their roles.”

Michel also pointed that the violence against “peaceful protesters was shocking and unacceptable.  We condemn this brutality and expect a full and transparent investigation. Any violence must be avoided. this includes any repression and violence against those seeking to engage in national dialogue efforts.”

European Commission Pledges  53 Million Euros to Support Belarusian People

This will include two-million euros to assist the victims of state violence and one-million euros to support independent media. The rest is for COVID-19 support.