“We are deeply concerned about the presidential elections in Belarus. Severe restrictions on candidates' access to voting, a ban on the presence of local, independent observers at polling stations, intimidation of opposition candidates, the detention of peaceful demonstrators and journalists overshadowed the process, "TASS quotes her.
Washington called on Minsk to respect the right of Belarusian citizens to “peaceful assemblies” and refuse to use force.
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the Belarusian authorities managed to avoid a dangerous escalation of the situation, despite the attempts of certain forces to organize large-scale protests.
The current president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, who won the election, said that the voting in the country was held as a holiday, but those who wanted to spoil it lit up even brighter.
The Investigative Committee of Belarus opened 21 criminal cases on the facts of riots after the presidential elections.