Credit: Gary Raynaldo /  ©Diplomatic Times /  U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo  briefs reporters at Department of State headquarters in Washington D.C.

By Gary Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC TIMES

The United States is demanding Belarusian authorities release all political detainees, including opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova, who was abducted on a street in Minsk Monday.  Kolesnikova was reportedly snatched off a street in broad daylight by masked men.  The apparent abduction came after authorities acknowledged arresting more than 600 people at protests across the country over the weekend that attracted tens of thousands of people to pressure President  Lukashenka to resign following what opposition  says was a rigged election last month.

 “The United States is deeply concerned by the reported abduction September 7 in Belarus of Coordination Council member Mariya Kalesnikava, Spokesman Anton Rodnenkou, and Executive Secretary Ivan Krautsou, and the attempted forced expulsion over the border to Ukraine September 8.  We call on the Belarusian authorities to end the violence against their own people, release all those who have been unjustly detained…”

-Secretary of State Michael Pompeo  Sep. 09, 2020 –

Maria Kalesnikava is a key  political opposition leader  in Belarus was reportedly abducted on a street in capital city Minsk Monday  Sept. 7, 2020 /  Сильные Новости: GomelTube

United States Commends Courage Of Belarusian People Against Repression 

“We commend the courage of Ms. Kalesnikava and of the Belarusian people in peacefully asserting their right to pick their leaders in free and fair elections in the face of unjustified violence and repression by the Belarusian authorities…,” Pompeo said. 

U.S. Considering Targeted Sanctions On Individuals in Belarus Government

Pompeo said the U.S., in coordination with its partners and Allies, is considering additional targeted sanctions to promote accountability for those involved in human rights abuses and repression in Belarus.

EU Condemns Abduction of BELARUS Opposition Leader

Joseph  Borrell, the European Union’s  foreign policy chief, Monday, said the EU strongly condemns the “unabating arbitrary and unexplained arrests and detentions on political grounds” in Belarus following the disputed presidential elections.  

“Most recently, Maria Kalesnikova, Andrei Yahorau, Irina Sukhiy, Anton Radniankou, and Ivan Krautsou have all been targeted, while 633 people were detained following Sunday’s peaceful Unity March. It is clear that the State authorities in Belarus continue to intimidate or allow intimidation of its citizens in an increasingly lawless way and crudely violate both their own domestic laws and international obligations. The EU expects the Belarusian authorities to ensure the immediate release of all detained on political grounds before and after the falsified 9 August presidential elections.”

 -Joseph  Borrell,  European Union  foreign policy chief