Several countries have criticized and questioned the presidential election in Belarus on August 9, when incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko declared himself the winner after an alleged voter turnout of nearly 80 percent.

Foreign Minister Ann Linde (SocDem) spoke on Monday.

"I think it will be very difficult for Lukashenko to stay, but it is not possible to say exactly how he or Russia will react," she told SVT.

Löfven condemns the violence

Prime Minister Stefan Löfven takes the situation in the country seriously and criticizes the presidential election.

- The presidential election on August 9 was neither free nor fair, and I condemn the violence against and the arrests of peaceful demonstrators for which the Belarusian regime and the authorities are responsible, says Stefan Löfven in a statement and continues:

- The very extensive demonstrations we have seen in Belarus in recent days clearly show that the Belarusian people do not accept the announced election results but strive for democratic change and reforms.

The EU is holding a meeting

Stefan Löfven also says that Sweden is united with the people of Belarus and that they support the people's right to decide over their future.

Belarus's sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as the will of the Belarusian people need to be respected by all.

EU heads of state and government will hold an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Belarus.

- We stand united with the Belarusian people, and wholeheartedly support its right to decide its own future and freely choose its leaders. Belarus's sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as the will of the Belarusian people need to be respected by all.