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Live Updates: Lukashenko Says Presidential Election Will Be Held After New Constitution Adopted

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Belarus has been engulfed in protests since the release of the results of the presidential election, showing incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko, at the... 17.08.2020, Sputnik International

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Live Updates: Lukashenko Says Presidential Election Will Be Held After New Constitution Adopted

06:21 GMT 17.08.2020 (Updated: 14:37 GMT 17.08.2020)

Belarus has been engulfed in protests since the release of the results of the presidential election, showing incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko, at the helm of the country for 26 years, winning over 80 percent of the vote.

Belarusian opposition politician Svetlana Tikhanovskaya on Monday stated she was ready to act as a national leader in order to prepare a legal framework for a new transparent presidential election that should be recognised by the international community.

"I have never had any illusions regarding my political career. I have never wanted to be a politician. However, destiny had other plans, and I have found myself on the front line of the fight against iniquity and injustice ... You had trust in me and gave me force ... I am ready to take responsibility and act as a national leader in these tough times to help the country calm down and enter a normal period. We need to set free all the political prisoners and quickly prepare a legal framework and conditions for a new presidential election, which will be fair and transparent and will be unequivocally recognised by the global community", Tikhanovskaya said in a new video address.

Tikhanovskaya expressed gratitude to her supporters, praising their courage and solidarity, and pledging that the names of those killed in protests would never be forgotten.

Belarus has been mired in protests since the results of the presidential election in the country were announced. Incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won over 80 percent of the vote amid widespread accusations of vote-rigging. Over 6,700 people have been detained during the post-election protests in Belarus that have been going on for more than a week. The police initially used tear gas, rubber bullets, and flashbang grenades to disperse crowds.

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Table of contents

19:19 GMT 17.08.2020

Lukashenko Fears Protests Could Turn Belarus Into 'Buffer Zone' Against Russia

18:52 GMT 17.08.2020

Merkel Told Lithuanian President of Wish to Discuss Belarus Protests With Putin

18:20 GMT 17.08.2020

Lukashenko Confirms Merkel Called Him on Sunday 'To Talk'

18:19 GMT 17.08.2020

Lukashenko Says He Had Offered Vote Recount to Opposition, But They Want New Election

16:54 GMT 17.08.2020

There Should Be No External Interference in Affairs of This Country, EC Says in Invitation to EU Leaders to Summit on Belarus

15:23 GMT 17.08.2020

Number of Belarusians in Hospital After Protests Currently at 158 - Acting Health Minister

14:46 GMT 17.08.2020

Trump Calls Situation in Belarus 'Terrible', Says US Watching Events in Belarus Closely

14:40 GMT 17.08.2020

NATO Supports Sovereign and Independent Belarus, Stoltenberg Says

13:57 GMT 17.08.2020

Lukashenko Says Presidential Election Will Be Held in Belarus After New Constitution Adopted

13:46 GMT 17.08.2020

Ukraine Recalls Ambassador to Belarus for Consultations About Future Relationship With Minsk

13:41 GMT 17.08.2020

Belarus' Neighbors Agree to Monitor Security Situation, Polish President Says

13:32 GMT 17.08.2020

Germany's Steinmeier Calls on Lukashenko to Avoid Using Force Against Protesters

13:30 GMT 17.08.2020

Media Workers Go On Strike at State-Run TV and Radio Company in Minsk

13:21 GMT 17.08.2020

West Does Not Need Peace in Belarus, Ukraine, Russian Lawmaker Says

12:56 GMT 17.08.2020

Borrell Confirms EU Working on Belarus Sanctions List That Will Include People Responsible for Violence

12:45 GMT 17.08.2020

Belarus' Law Enforcement Report Multiple Suits Over Police Brutality During Protests

11:46 GMT 17.08.2020

Lukashenko Says Putin Agrees There Is Some Reason Behind Events in Belarus

10:54 GMT 17.08.2020

Leaders of Key Parties of European Parliament Call For New Election in Belarus

10:46 GMT 17.08.2020

Employees of Belarus Steel Plant Continue Strike, Planned to Stop Rolling Line

10:44 GMT 17.08.2020

Lukashenko Urges Protesters Not to Provoke Law Enforcement Officers, Says Will Respond to Provocations

10:26 GMT 17.08.2020

Lukashenko Says Belarus Working on Third Draft of New Constitution, Previous Two Versions Were Rejected

10:12 GMT 17.08.2020

Belarusian Prosecutors Receiving Many Complaints About Police Abusing Power

09:58 GMT 17.08.2020

Almost All People Detained During Protests in Belarus Released, Prosecutor General's Office Says

09:45 GMT 17.08.2020

Russia's Zakharova Criticizes Macron’s Calls for EU Support Amid Belarus Rallies

09:43 GMT 17.08.2020

European Council to Discuss Situation in Belarus on Wednesday, Michel Says

08:18 GMT 17.08.2020

Opposition Politician Tsepkalo Has Plans to Discuss Situation in Belarus With US Lawmakers

08:11 GMT 17.08.2020

German President Steinmeier Urges Belarusian Military Not to Use Violence Against Own People

08:07 GMT 17.08.2020

Belarusian President Lukashenko: There Will Be No New Election

07:51 GMT 17.08.2020

Belarus Opposition Ready For Talks With Lukashenko, Politician Tsepkalo Says

07:24 GMT 17.08.2020

UK to Work With International Partners on Sanctions Against Belarus Officials, Foreign Secretary Says

07:24 GMT 17.08.2020

Lukashenko's Helicopter Lands at Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant

06:26 GMT 17.08.2020

Poland Says Monitoring Situation at its Border With Belarus

New firstOld first

19:19 GMT 17.08.2020

MINSK (Sputnik) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko fears that the protests that began after the presidential election could turn the republic into a "buffer zone" against Russia, and that Moscow might react to this.

"They will put more [Belarusians] in a [chain] from Vilnius to Kiev to show that it is necessary to create a buffer zone between Russia and the West. In fact, against Russia. Do you want Russia to react further? I do not want it," Lukashenko said while talking with workers of the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant. An excerpt from the conversation was broadcast by the Belarus 1 channel.

18:52 GMT 17.08.2020

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on Monday about her upcoming call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the post-election protests in Belarus.

"Angela Merkel informed the President about her scheduled call with the Russian President on Tuesday morning," the Lithuanian president's office said in a press release.

According to the press release, Berlin is currently trying as well to get in touch with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko "to settle the situation in Belarus."

Merkel thanked Lithuania for assistance to Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who exiled in Lithuania after claiming that she outdid Lukashenko in a presidential election on August 9, as stated in the press release.

"The two leaders also discussed possible support for consolidation of civil society," the press release read.

The call between Merkel and Nauseda was otherwise focused on the discussion of the upcoming European Council meeting on Wednesday that will discuss possible sanctions on Belarus.

Protests in Belarus have been ongoing since the government announced that Lukashenko win over 80 percent of the vote in the presidential election, while Tikhanovskaya won less than 10 percent. Tikhanovskaya, who according to her campaign's comment to Sputnik was forced to flee from the country, has refused to recognize the results, while people urged Lukashenko to step down.

During the first several days of protests, Belarusian police used force to disperse the protesters, firing tear gas, water cannons, stun grenades and rubber bullets. More than 6,700 people were detained, according to the Belarusian Interior Ministry. There was one confirmed fatality so far during the protest in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, while hundreds of people — including more than 120 police officers — have sustained injuries.

Lithuania, along with Latvia, Estonia and Poland, have offered mediation services between Belarus' government and civil society.

18:19 GMT 17.08.2020

MINSK (Sputnik) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that he had offered the opposition a recount of votes in the presidential election, but this is no longer relevant for them, and they demand new election.

“I have already been offered to count the votes ... Let them say where, at what polling stations? They were offered to recount in the evening. People tell me: 'Listen, it's already irrelevant to consider.' 'What do you need?' — 'New election,'" Lukashenko said while talking with one of the workers of the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant. An excerpt from the conversation was broadcast by the ONT TV channel.

16:53 GMT 17.08.2020

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) - European Council President Charles Michel, in an invitation to European leaders to the summit on August 19, urged not to interfere in the affairs of Belarus.

"The people of Belarus have the right to determine their own future. To allow for this, violence has to stop and a peaceful and inclusive dialogue has to be launched. The leadership of Belarus must reflect the will of the people. There should be no outside interference," the invitation says.

Michel said earlier that he had convened the European Council to discuss Belarus on Wednesday. The meeting will be held via video conference and will start at 10.00 GMT.

15:23 GMT 17.08.2020

MINSK/WARSAW, August 17 (Sputnik) - There are 158 people remaining in hospitals in Belarus with injuries obtained during the post-election protests, Belarusian Acting Health Minister Vladimir Karanik said on Monday.

"At the moment, 158 people remain in hospitals," Karanik said in response to Sputnik's question during a public appearance at a protest near the ministry building.

According to the official, the total number of hospitalized people includes three cases of severe injuries, while the rest are in "a stable, non-critical condition."

Neighboring Poland, in the meantime, has offered help in treating the Belarusians injured during the protests. As stated by Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Przydacz during a meeting of the parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, all such requests will be processed by Poland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Health.

"With regard to medical assistance, the issue is obvious for us. The Polish government maintains and has always maintained readiness to provide immediate assistance," Przydacz said, going on to clarify that "the Defense Ministry Hospital and the military hospital are ready to admit and help those in need of assistance."

14:45 GMT 17.08.2020

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump on Monday called the situation in Belarus “terrible” and promised to follow it “very closely.”

“That’s a terrible situation in Belarus. We’ll be following it very closely,” Trump told reporters before departing from the White House.

14:40 GMT 17.08.2020

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) - NATO does not pose a threat to Belarus, it supports its independence and sovereignty, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement.

"NATO does not pose a threat to Belarus and has no military buildup in the region. We remain vigilant, strictly defensive, and ready to deter any aggression against NATO Allies," the statement says.

13:57 GMT 17.08.2020

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Monday a presidential election may be held in Belarus after the country adopted a new constitution at a referendum.

"We need to adopt a new constitution, which you wanted and those who prefer alternatives would be okay with. It should be adopted at a referendum because we adopted the previous constitution at a referendum, and if you want, there should be elections based on the new constitution — parliamentary, presidential, municipal," Lukashenko said at a meeting with workers at MZKT vehicle plant, as aired by Belarus 24 broadcaster.

Belarus has seen a wave of protests since the presidential election held on August 9. According to official results, Lukashenko won over 80 percent of the vote. The Belarusian opposition refused to recognize the results, and people took to the streets demanding a new election.

Police used force during the first several days of the protests, firing tear gas, water cannons, stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters. More than 6,700 people were detained, according to the Belarusian Interior Ministry. So far, there was one confirmed fatality during the protest in the capital city of Minsk, while hundreds of people — including more than 120 police officers — have sustained injuries.

13:45 GMT 17.08.2020

KIEV (Sputnik) - Kiev has recalled its ambassador Ihor Kyzym from Minsk to discuss its future relationship with Belarus, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Monday.

"I have decided to summon Ukrainian Ambassador to Belarus Ihor Kyzym to Kiev for consultations to assess the prospects for the Belarusian-Ukrainian relationship in the new situation," Kuleba said, as quoted by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.

Belarus has seen a number of protests since the presidential election held on August 9. According to official results, incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won over 80 percent of the vote. The Belarusian opposition refused to recognize the results, and people took to the streets.

13:40 GMT 17.08.2020

WARSAW (Sputnik) - Polish President Andrzej Duda said he had agreed with his Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian counterparts to monitor the situation in Belarus, during a video conference on Monday.

"We agreed to continue the close cooperation of the presidents of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia... and to jointly monitor the situation," he tweeted.

The four leaders discussed regional security and reiterated their readiness to support political process in Belarus that would reflect the will of its people, Duda said.

Belarus prepares to hold military drills near the border with Poland and Lithuania this week after President Alexander Lukashenko accused neighbors, NATO allies, of hosting war games on the bloc's eastern flank.

Belarus has been engulfed in protests since August 9, when a presidential election saw Lukashenko win over 80 percent of the vote, according to the official figures. The Belarusian opposition refused to recognize the results, and people took to the streets en masse to demand that the president step down.

2/2 Podtrzymujemy także gotowość do wsparcia procesu politycznego, który realizować będzie wolną wolę narodu białoruskiego. Umówiliśmy się na kontynuację ścisłej współpracy prezydentów Polski, Litwy, Łotwy i Estonii w tych kwestiach i wspólne monitorowanie sytuacji.
— Andrzej Duda (@AndrzejDuda) August 17, 2020

13:31 GMT 17.08.2020

BERLIN (Sputnik) - German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Monday called on his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, and the Belarusian army to not use force against the demonstrators amid nationwide protests.

"I appeal to President Lukashenko to follow the path of dialogue," Steinmeier said, speaking in Berlin.

The German president also urged the Belarusian military to not "sin against their own people by using force."

Steinmeier went on to say that the Belarusian citizens, who are protesting peacefully, deserve Germany's solidarity and support.

Belarus has been engulfed in protests since August 9, when a presidential election saw incumbent President Lukashenko win over 80 percent of the vote, according to the official figures. The Belarusian opposition refused to recognize the results, and people took to the streets en masse to demand that the president step down.

13:27 GMT 17.08.2020

Demonstrators raise their mobile phones near the Government House in Independence Square during a protest rally against police violence during at rallies of opposition supporters, who accuse strongman Alexander Lukashenko of falsifying the polls in the presidential election, in central Minsk on August 14, 2020. - Crowds of workers walked off the job on August 14, 2020, at several factories in Belarus's capital Minsk in support of the opposition calling for leader Alexander Lukashenko to step down. Hundreds of workers marched from the Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) and the Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ) after the opposition called for strikes against Lukashenko's disputed claim to have won re-election. - Sputnik International

Protesters Rally Outside National State Television and Radio Company in Minsk - Video

17 August 2020, 13:26 GMT

13:20 GMT 17.08.2020

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Western reaction to the events unfolding in Belarus shows that the West does not, in fact, need peace in Belarus, as well as in Ukraine, Leonid Slutsky, the head of the Russian lower chamber's international affairs committee, said on Monday.

Earlier in the day, key political groups of the European Parliament called on Russia to "refrain from any interference in Belarus", which has been engulfed in unrest since August 9, when the election saw incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko win over 80 percent of the vote. In their joint statement, the European lawmakers also said they did not recognize the result of the election, and considered Lukashenko a persona non grata in the EU.

"Alexander Lukashenko has been engaged in direct dialogue with the people over the past days, so one should not spark tensions and aggravate the already tough situation against this background. The Western reactions shows, on the contrary, that they do not in fact need peace in Belarus or Ukraine, as it is much more gainful to create and maintain hotbeds of tensions near the Russian border," Slutsky told reporters.

Unlike European and US lawmakers, and "other representatives of the Western elite", Russia never interferes in other countries' affairs "without request from legitimate authorities," Slutsky added, stressing that Belarusians are capable of resolving the crisis on their own.

12:55 GMT 17.08.2020

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell confirmed on Monday that the EU was working on a list of sanctions regarding the recent events in Belarus.

"As agreed by the EU Foreign Ministers at our recent video conference, the EU is working on new listings for sanctions against those responsible for violence, repression of peaceful protests, and the falsification of election results," Borrell said in a statement.

Borrell added that he would update EU heads of state on the matter on Wednesday.

12:45 GMT 17.08.2020

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - More than 700 people have filed suits over the use of excessive force by law enforcement during the post-election protests in Belarus, the Belarusian law enforcement agencies said on Monday.

"The Prosecutor General's Office is receiving multiple suits with demands to launch criminal cases into abuse of power or professional functions by law enforcement officers. In line with regulations of the Criminal-Procedural Code of Belarus, these suits are passed to the Investigative Committee of Belarus for relevant decision-making," the Belarusian Prosecutor General's Office said on its Telegram channel.

According to the Belarusian Investigative Committee, it has received close to 700 suits.

"More than 600 citizens have submitted suits over suffering physical injuries during their arrest by law enforcement officers and about 100 people over suffering physical injuries when in temporary detention facilities," the committee's press service said in a press release.

Additionally, the committee said it had received 124 "suits and messages" from police officers over "assault by protesters and destruction and damage of property, including official vehicles and urban infrastructure objects."

Protests in Belarus have been ongoing since August 9, when a presidential election saw incumbent President Aleksander Lukashenko win over 80 percent of the vote, according to the official estimate. The Belarusian opposition refused to recognize the results, and people took to the streets en masse to demand that the president step down.

Police used force during the first several days of the protests, firing tear gas, water cannons, stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters. More than 6,700 people were detained, according to the Belarusian Interior Ministry. There so far was one confirmed fatality during the protest in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, while hundreds of people — including more than 120 police officers — have sustained injuries.

11:46 GMT 17.08.2020

MINSK (Sputnik) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin also believed that the turmoil that emerged in Belarus after the election was no accident.

"They have provoked this situation, they have forced us to task our military with implementing some domestic action. Who can guarantee that the forces that are being drawn here from abroad do not care about us? Well, Putin and I both believe that this turmoil has some definite reason behind," Lukashenko said, as quoted by the state-run news agency Belta.

10:54 GMT 17.08.2020

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Leaders of the key political groups of the European Parliament called on Monday, in a joint statement, for immediately introducing individual sanctions against every person in Belarus responsible for the violence against protesters, and also said they did not recognize Alexander Lukashenko as president.

"We welcome the decision of EU foreign affairs ministers to blacklist all those responsible for violence and the falsified presidential elections. We urge the sanctions list to be compiled as soon as possible, so people who committed these crimes are banned from visiting the EU and their assets are frozen," leaders from European People's Party, Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, Renew Europe, Greens–European Free Alliance, and European Conservatives and Reformists groups said in a joint statement.

The leaders of the political groups said that the Belarusian presidential election, held on August 9, was "neither free, nor fair, and credible reports point to a victory of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya."

"We, therefore, do not recognise Alexander Lukashenko as the re-elected President of Belarus and consider him a persona non grata in the European Union. We join the Belarusian people in their demand for new and free elections, under the supervision of independent observers. We strongly condemn the arrests and appalling acts of violence and torture perpetrated against peaceful protesters, and call for a full investigation of these crimes, which cannot go unpunished," the statement read on.

The politicians called for an immediate release of the detained protesters, as well as "political prisoners who have been detained before and during the election campaign."

10:46 GMT 17.08.2020

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Employees of Byelorussian Steel Works (BSW) are continuing to strike amid protests in Belarus and planned to stop a rolling line at the plant at 12 p.m. (09:00 GMT), its spokesperson said.

"We are planning a stop ... officially scheduled for 12 p.m.," the spokesperson said.

At the same time, there were no reports of the rolling line being stopped as of 10:00 GMT.

The BSW press service said that on Monday morning some production facilities were stopped in the planned mode due to electricity consumption during the peak period.

"This has nothing to do with any political issues, strikes," the statement said.

10:39 GMT 17.08.2020

10:26 GMT 17.08.2020

MINSK (Sputnik) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Monday the work on the third draft of a new constitution was ongoing after he rejected the first two variants.

"We need a new constitution. I was offered two drafts. I rejected them because they were not very different from the current one. The work on the third draft is ongoing. Come and join us, let's work on the constitution," Lukashenko said as he was visiting the Minsk Automobile Plant, as quoted by the state news agency Belta.

The visit came after several days of protests across the country and a number of companies reportedly mulling a strike. The opposition disagreed with the official results of Sunday's presidential election, which indicated Lukashenko won with 80 percent of the vote.

At the plant, Lukashenko said he was "not a saint."

"You know I am tough. You know that without being tough, the country would be no more. You know that I will not let any harm come to your children and will not surrender the country to anyone. This is what matters," Lukashenko said.

The Belarusian president urged people to "think not with iPhones or telephones but with the brain."

"If you crowd the streets, we will be patient. If you turn aggressive, you will be held accountable," Lukashenko said.

At first, the law enforcement was actively quelling the protests of people who disagreed with the election results. Tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets were used. After a few days, the police stopped dispersing rallies or using force. According to official data, more than 6,700 people were detained in the first few days of the protests. According to the Interior Ministry, hundreds of people were injured in the rallies, including more than 120 law enforcement officers. One protester died.

10:12 GMT 17.08.2020

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The office of the Belarusian prosecutor general said Monday it was receiving many complaints about law enforcement officers abusing their authority.

"The prosecutor general's office is receiving many complaints demanding that criminal cases be opened on abuse of power or authority by the law enforcement personnel," the prosecutors said in the Telegram channel.

The office of the prosecutor general is sending these complaints to the Investigative Committee but will monitor the cases to ensure that each complaint is looked into.

09:56 GMT 17.08.2020

The Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Belarus has published a list of citizens who were sentenced to jail after participating in protests. They were given between 7 and 15 days in jail.

09:45 GMT 17.08.2020

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused on Monday French President Emmanuel Macron of hypocrisy after he urged the European Union to support the anti-government demonstrations in Belarus.

On Sunday, Macron tweeted that the EU should support the peaceful opposition rallies in Belarus “for the respect of their rights, their freedom and their sovereignty."

“When will he [Emmanuel Macron] ask the European Union to continue mobilizing together with the hundreds of thousands of 'yellow vests' who demand respect for their rights, freedoms and sovereignty at peaceful demonstrations? When will the European Union stop waiting for requests from the presidents of its member states and begin to actively mobilize for protest actions within its own area?" Zakharova wrote on her Facebook page, branding Macron’s initiative as “hypocrisy.”

Since Sunday, Belarus has seen daily demonstrations against the official presidential results, which saw incumbent Alexander Lukashenko win his sixth term with over 80 percent of the votes. Around 6,700 people were detained in the protests, and many others were injured, including from law enforcement agencies.

09:43 GMT 17.08.2020

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The European Council will hold negotiations on the situation in Belarus on Wednesday, President Charles Michel said, condemning police violence.

I will call a meeting of the members of the European Council this Wednesday 12h00 to discuss the situation in #Belarus

The people of Belarus have the right to decide on their future and freely elect their leader

Violence against protesters is unacceptable and cannot be allowed
— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) August 17, 2020

08:17 GMT 17.08.2020

Former contender for the Belarusian presidency Valery Tsepkalo said on Monday that he could initiate hearings in the US Congress on the situation in Belarus, adding he would soon hold online talks with US lawmakers.

"I think hearings in the US Congress will be held soon”, Tsepkalo, who fled the country last month, said.

"The [online] meeting with [US] congressmen and senators, those who take interest in the situation in Belarus, will be held tomorrow. This will be a closed online conference. Around 10 people, both Democrats and Republicans, have already submitted requests”, Tsepkalo said, adding he had already discussed the situation with European and Russian lawmakers.

The politician, who served as the Belarusian ambassador to the United States from 1997-2002, noted that most of those who would take part in the online talks were "new people”, not those he used to communicate with when working in Washington.

Tsepkalo also said he had no plans to hold talks with the US ambassador to Poland, where the politician plans to move from Kiev, in the near future.r future.

08:07 GMT 17.08.2020

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Monday, during his talks with the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant staffers, that a new presidential election in the country is excluded.

"You will never see me doing anything under pressure. It [new presidential election] will not be held. As there would be no Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant, no Minsk Automobile Plant, no BelAZ, everything would be destroyed within just six months," Lukashenko said, as quoted by the state-run news agency Belta.

07:28 GMT 17.08.2020

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Belarusian opposition is potentially ready for a dialogue with President Alexander Lukashenko, but only if he decides to transfer the power, former presidential candidate Valery Tsepkalo said on Monday.

"Of course, there needs to be a dialogue, obviously," Tsepkalo said when asked if the opposition was ready to have a peaceful dialogue with Lukashenko.

According to Tsepkalo, if Lukashenko "leaves now, if he transfers the power voluntarily, he will not be persecuted."

However, Lukashenko has made it clear that he does not want to have talks with the opposition, Tsepkalo said.

07:11 GMT 17.08.2020

The United Kingdom will work with its international partners on sanctions against those Belarusian officials responsible for violence against peaceful protesters, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Monday, stressing that London does not recognise the results of the Belarusian presidential election.

"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. We urgently need an independent investigation through the OSCE [Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe] into the flaws that rendered the election unfair, as well as the grisly repression that followed. The UK will work with our international partners to sanction those responsible, and hold the Belarusian authorities to account”, Raab said, as quoted by the Foreign Office.

07:05 GMT 17.08.2020

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's helicopter has landed at the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Monday.

The Belarusian leader presumably opted for a helicopter instead of a car due to the adjacent parking lots being overcrowded since vehicle movement is not limited in the area surrounding the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant. The helicopter landed at around 10:00 a.m. local time (07:00 GMT), exactly the time for which the visit is scheduled.

Earlier in the day, a staffer from the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant told Sputnik that workers had no intention of going on strike and were waiting for the scheduled meeting with Lukashenko. According to the correspondent, around 100 people had gathered at the central checkpoint.

At the same time, the Minsk Tractor Works plant said some of its staffers had declared a strike and were heading to the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant.

Президентский вертолёт с Лукашенко на борту, прибыл на территорию Минского завода колёсных тягачей pic.twitter.com/hlkRKVZzuY
— YURII (@forura80) August 17, 2020

06:25 GMT 17.08.2020

"We are looking at what is happening in Belarus, just like all NATO countries, and we will also look at what happens at our borders. We will not be passive in this observation," Deputy Defence Minister Wojciech Skurkiewicz said on Monday.