UK 'does not accept' results of Belarus election: Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab

Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab during a meeting at Lancaster House in London on July 21, 2020. PHOTO: AFP

LONDON (AFP, REUTERS) - The UK said on Monday (Aug 17) it did not recognise the results of the "unfair" Belarus presidential election which saw Mr Alexander Lukashenko re-elected, and called for an independent investigation into the disputed results.

"The world has watched with horror at the violence used by the Belarusian authorities to suppress the peaceful protests that followed this fraudulent presidential election. The UK does not accept the results," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said.

Germany's President on Monday urged the military in Belarus not to use violence as Belarusians protest against what demonstrators say was the fraudulent re-election a week ago of the country's longtime president.

"I urge the Belarusian military not to sin against their own people by using force," said Mr Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose post is largely ceremonial.

Mr Steinmeier, who said he admired the demonstrators' courage, urged President Alexander Lukashenko to seek dialogue with them and said the people in Belarus deserved solidarity and support.

Mr Lukashenko told workers on Monday that there would be no new presidential election "until you kill me", Belarusian media reported.

"We held elections already. Until you kill me, there will be no other elections," he was quoted by the Tut.by media outlet as telling workers at a tractor plant.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.