"We consider the elections rigged": the EU mistakenly called Lukashenka "illegitimate President of Ukraine"

The European Union does not consider Alexander Lukashenko to be the legitimate president of Belarus.

This was stated by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell during the plenary session of the European Parliament.

“The situation seems obvious to us.

We consider the elections held on August 9 to be rigged, ”Borrell said.

Continuing his speech, Borrell made a reservation and said that Lukashenka "is not the legitimate president of Ukraine."

The situation caused a little laughter in the hall, the head of European diplomacy was corrected, after which he apologized and continued his speech.

“I beg your pardon - (illegitimate president. -

) Belarus.

What was I just thinking?

Sorry, sorry, ”Borrell added.

• Josep Borrell made a reservation, calling Alexander Lukashenko the illegitimate President of Ukraine

According to him, the EU has begun to revise relations with Minsk, in particular, the sectors are being studied in which interaction with Belarus can be "frozen".

“We call on the Belarusian authorities to find a way out of the situation and stop repressions, launch an inclusive national dialogue.

We are ready to support any authoritative initiative in this area ... In our opinion, new elections under the auspices of the OSCE could be the best solution, ”he added.

He also said that the European Union intends to approve sanctions against the Belarusian authorities by September 24, when the meeting of the European Council begins.

Earlier in the Czech Republic, it was stated that the restrictions from the EU would come into force no later than September 21.

At the same time, the German newspaper Die Welt reported that Alexander Lukashenko would not be included in the sanctions list.

According to Borrell, "many who participated in the repression" will fall under the sanctions.

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Earlier in the American newspaper The Washington Post, a column was published by the former presidential candidate of Belarus Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.

She reiterated her non-recognition of the results of the presidential elections, which were published by the CEC of Belarus.

According to her, the Belarusian oppositionists will continue to hold “mass demonstrations” and put pressure on state institutions, and also intend to gain support from the international community.

“We, as a country, have passed the point of no return.

Lukashenka has no future as the leader of this country, and his departure from power is only a matter of time, "Tikhanovskaya said.

At the same time, Pavel Latushko, a member of the presidium of the coordination council of Belarus “for the transfer of power,” said that the opposition expects to receive financial assistance from Europe.

His words are quoted by RIA Novosti.

“There should be a package of measures, not this $ 1.5 billion offered by the eastern country, but real financial assistance to stabilize the economic situation in the range of $ 3-4 billion,” he said, stressing that the republic’s economy is under great pressure debentures.

Recall that Tikhanovskaya initiated the creation of a coordination council for the opposition of Belarus.

This body, like Tikhanovskaya herself, was recognized by the Lithuanian Seimas as the legal representative of the Belarusian authorities.

In this regard, the presidium of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus called the actions of the Lithuanian colleagues "provocative and unacceptable", in addition to violating the norms of international law.

“By adopting this document, Lithuanian parliamentarians grossly interfere in the internal affairs of the Republic of Belarus and show open disrespect for the sovereign right of the Belarusian people to independently choose the leadership and determine the path of development of their country.

The attempt of the Lithuanian deputies to appoint the “leader of the people of Belarus” goes beyond common sense, ”the commentary says.

"The EU is turning the situation inside out"

According to Dmitry Novikov, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, Western politicians should understand that they need to restore order, observe democratic norms, human rights and the principles of freedom of speech, first of all, in their states.

“To get involved in the affairs of Belarus, to teach the Belarusian people to live, and even more so to turn everything inside out, presenting white as black, and black as white is not worth it.

Belarusians came to the polls, the voting took place.

Of course, there were some shortcomings in the conduct of the elections, but the elections were held, and the citizens expressed their opinion.

Attempts to shake the situation and arrange a coup d'etat against the background of extras on the streets of Minsk also did not work.

And the tantrums of the West are a familiar thing for us, they need to be treated calmly, as a reality, "said the interlocutor of RT.

Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the Federation Council committee on international affairs, also believes that the EU is trying to influence the situation in Belarus and interfere in its internal affairs.

“The only thing that external observers of the processes developing in Belarus can and should do is to provide conditions for these processes to be determined by the citizens of Belarus themselves.

Including the possible promotion of dialogue between the authorities and the opposition.

This is what Russia is doing and this is what all others, including the EU, should do if and when such assistance is demanded by the citizens of Belarus themselves, "the senator said, calling the statement of the head of EU diplomacy" unacceptable. "

The day before, a meeting of the presidents of Russia and Belarus took place in Sochi.

Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko talked for more than four hours, in particular, confirming the agreement to provide Minsk with a $ 1.5 billion loan and that Belarus will be the first to receive the Russian Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19 coronavirus infection.

As the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov noted, Moscow provided a loan to Minsk exclusively on certain commercial terms.

According to him, Belarus has always been the closest ally, a fraternal and friendly country for Russia.

“And we hope that it will remain so,” added a Kremlin spokesman.