State Department spokesman Philip Crowley stated on December 20 that Washington could not accept the results of the presidential elections in Belarus as legitimate. "The United States agrees with the assessment of the OSCE. We can't assume that the election results as legitimate," Philip Crowley.
«The United States strongly condemns all the violence that occurred on the Election Day in Belarus. We are particularly concerned about the excessive use of force by the authorities, including the beating and detention of several presidential candidates and violence against civil society activists and journalists. The government of Belarus should immediately release the detainees and exercise restraint in the coming days, but not do any harm, threaten or detain those, exercising their fundamental rights,» State Department spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek said at the outcome of presidential elections in Belarus that the country continues to be the last authoritarian state in Europe, Korrespondent.net reports.
«Lukashenko government clearly lacks democratic legitimacy and, unfortunately, (Belarus) continues to be the last authoritarian state in Europe,» Buzek’s statement says. On behalf of the European Parliament, he expressed «profound solidarity with civil society and democratic opposition and to all Belarusian citizens who strive for an independent, open and democratic Belarus based on the rule of law and respect for human rights.»
Buzek also condemned the «excessive and disproportionate» use of force by the Belarusian authorities, including beatings and detentions of opposition candidates, violence against journalists and civil society.
Let’s recall that presidential elections were held in Belarus. Alexander Lukashenko gained 79.67% of votes after counting of 100% of ballots. At the same time, the opposition candidates Vladimir Niakliaeu and Andrei Sannikov demanded that the Central Election Commission would cancel the results of early voting.
After the voting the opposition held an unsanctioned rally at Kastrychnitskaya Square in central Minsk, and then went to the Government House.
Demonstrators attempted to capture the Government House, but action was suppressed by the internal troops and Special Forces.
According to the media, three opposition candidates — Rygor Kastusiou, Andrei Sannikov and Nikolai Statkevich, were detained in Minsk. Besides, the presidential candidate Vladimir Niakliaeu received an internal brain injury in the result of clashes with the police.
Earlier, the Interior Ministry denied reports of some media that some people had been killed in the clashes of police and opposition supporters.
Alexander Lukashenko said that 639 people were detained during the opposition rally.
