UNITED NATIONS – The opposition’s main opponent in Belarus’s controversial presidential election on Friday suggested that the foreign network impose sanctions on “people who have committed electoral violations and crimes against humanity” and take other steps to end violence against protesters.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya told the UN Security Council that Alexander Lukashenko, who claimed victory in the nine August elections, had been involved in a “cynical and brazen attempt by Array . . . to borrow the votes of the people” and “no longer represents Belarus. “
“A country should not be held hostage to a man’s thirst for power, and that will not be the case,” he said. “The Belarusians have woken up. The point of not backing down has passed. “
Tsikhanouskaya, who fled to Lithuania under pressure from the Belarusian government after the elections, called Lukashenko the “only obstacle” to meet the people’s demands: “the soon cessation of violence and threats from the regime, soon of all political prisoners and fair elections. “
Lukashenko, who has ruled the country of 9. 5 million people with an iron hand for 26 years, fired protesters, who accumulated en masse for about 4 weeks to protest the effects of the official elections that earned him a sixth term with 80% voting, such as Western puppets.
In the early days, police arrested about 7,000 more people and beat up a lot of them, sparking foreign outrage and provoking a wave of protests against the government. Since then, the government has replaced its tactics, to stifle protests through threats, selective detention of protesters, and persecution of activists.
Tsikhanouskaya accused Lukashenko of “desperately clinging to force and refusing to pay attention to his other people and his own officials,” and called his regime “morally bankrupt, legally questionable, and simply unsustainable in the eyes of our nation. “
Recalling that Belarus was a founding member of the United Nations in 1945, he said that his other people now needed United Nations assistance “to end serious violations of human rights and the cynical human dignity in central Europe. “.
In addition to urging the foreign network to use “all mechanisms”, adding sanctions, to end violence, Tsikhanouskaya called for a special consultation of the UN Human Rights Council to discuss human rights violations in Belarus and suggested to the UN that a “foreign monitoring mission” be concluded to the country to document the scenario on the ground.
Ambassador Olof Skoog, who is leading the European Union’s project to the United Nations, reiterated that EU leaders have declared that elections are free and fair and suggested the Belarusian government “find a way out of the crisis by ending violence and de-stairs and an inclusive national dialogue. But he said, “Unfortunately, the stage is getting better. “
Skoog said the EU would assess the Belarusian government’s movements to address the existing scenario and conduct a thorough review of the EU’s relations with Belarus that will come with action, adding sanctions, as opposed to those guilty of violence, unjustified arrests and elections. counterfeiting Results.
Tsikhanouskaya demanded access and freedom of movement from independent UN human rights researcher in Belarus, Anais Marin.
Marín told the council that the stage in the country “has never been as catastrophic as last month” and “is even more concerned because it continues to deteriorate. “
He warned that “it is wonderful that a spiral of violence threatens regional peace and security. “
When a government announces that it is in a position to use the army opposed to its own citizens in peacetime, when it unfoundedly accuses its neighbors of interference and aggression, and when it is willing to sacrifice the sovereignty of the country and the independence of its country. For establishments to remain in position at all costs, foreign peace and security is under threat,” Marín said.
He called on all parties to act in moderation, saying that “the only imaginable way out of this unprecedented crisis is dialogue, which will have to be open, fair and with civil society in particular.
Tsikhanouskaya also demanded an end to attacks and arrests by protesters, the prompting of all political prisoners and an end to intimidation and attacks on the members of the Coordinating Council, which she trained to organize a nonviolent and orderly movement of Lukashenko’s power.
“I need to be very clear, run with Mr. Diet. Lukashenko means, for the time being, violence and serious violation of human rights,” he said.
The leader of the opposition said: “We are in a position and open to discussion with all parties, parties and countries that respect Belarus’ sovereignty and territorial integrity. “
Lukashenko rejected requests from the EU, the US and others to interact in the discussion with the opposition.
Faced with Western criticism, the Belarusian leader sought the support of Russia, which has a trade union agreement with Belarus with close political, economic and military ties. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he is in a position to send policemen to Belarus at Lukashenko’s request. if the protests turn violent.
During Friday’s meeting, organized through Estonia, which is part of the Security Council for a period of two years, Russia and China opposed any internal interference in Belarusian affairs, while Western countries and countries of the former Soviet bloc, adding Romania, Poland and Ukraine, rejected the outcome of the elections and called for an end to violence and political dialogue.
As the virtual assembly unfolded, many messages gave the impression in the discussion table, almost all supporting Tsikhanouskaya, many calling him “President of the Republic of Belarus”.