Tsikhanovskaya asked the EU not to recognize the results of the presidential elections in Belarus

(Patria) – Prominent figure of the Belarusian opposition Sviatlana Tsikhanovskaya appealed to the leaders of the European Union on Wednesday not to recognize the results of the rigged presidential elections, demanding that member states support the choice of the people of Belarus.

Tsikhanovskaya conveyed this message via a video message ahead of an extraordinary EU summit, which will also be held via video link, on the current crisis in Belarus.

Alexander Lukashenko, who has been at the head of the country for 26 years, is trying to cope with growing protests and strikes in the country, which represent the biggest challenge he has faced in his long reign. Lukashenko continues to deny that he is behind the rigged presidential elections, which resulted in 80% support for the 'last European dictator'.

– I call on you not to recognize these rigged elections, Tsikhanovskaya said in a video address in English. 'Mr. Lukashenko has lost legitimacy in the eyes of our nation and the world,' emphasized his rival, who, before fleeing to Lithuania, officially rejected the election results according to which she received only 10% support.

She also stated that she is the rightful winner of the elections, and that she wants new elections with international supervision.

The EU has already indicated that it plans to impose sanctions against Belarusian officials whom it considers responsible for alleged election fraud, as well as for the crackdown on protests in which at least two people lost their lives, while thousands were arrested and imprisoned.

Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde, who will soon chair the OSCE, offered to visit Minsk to assess mediation needs.

At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had previously offered military assistance to Belarusian leader Lukashenko, spoke with Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron, and Charles Michel on Tuesday about the situation in Belarus. Among other things, Putin warned Merkel and Macron not to interfere in the internal affairs of Belarus, which is a close ally of Russia.