Close X
Friday, September 20, 2024
ADVT 
National

Belarus election 'fraudulent': Champagne

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 17 Aug, 2020 09:45 PM
  • Belarus election 'fraudulent': Champagne

Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says Canada does not accept the results of the "fraudulent" presidential election in Belarus.

He says Canada is calling for "free and fair elections" in Belarus, where authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko is under increasing pressure to step down.

The statement from Champagne comes as strikes grew across Belarus, following a brutal dispersal of peaceful, post-election demonstrations last week.

At least 7,000 were detained by riot police, many complaining they were beaten mercilessly, while one protester was killed and hundreds were wounded.

Champagne, who spoke with opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya over the weekend, says Canada condemns the crackdown on protesters.

He is also calling for a thorough investigation by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, whose assessments of elections are widely regarded as authoritative.

"Canada joins its partners in the international community in condemnation of the crackdown on peaceful protesters following the presidential election in Belarus," Champagne says in the statement.

"We do not accept the results of this fraudulent presidential election in Belarus and call for free and fair elections," he says.

"Canada will continue to stand with the people of Belarus, and we will work with our international partners to ensure that their voices are heard and that those responsible for undermining democracy and for brutal actions against protesters are held to account."

MORE National ARTICLES

More than one killer whale may be pregnant

More than one killer whale may be pregnant
More than one endangered southern resident killer whale is believed to be pregnant and a University of British Columbia scientist says he is delighted at the news.

More than one killer whale may be pregnant

Poor maintenance caused ship fire off B.C.: TSB

Poor maintenance caused ship fire off B.C.: TSB
The Transportation Safety Board says a fire that broke out in the engine room of a container ship off Haida Gwaii was caused by poor maintenance.

Poor maintenance caused ship fire off B.C.: TSB

Pilot decisions led to fatal crash in Yukon: TSB

Pilot decisions led to fatal crash in Yukon: TSB
Pilot decision-making was the cause of a fatal crash in Yukon involving an Alkan Air Ltd. flight last August.

Pilot decisions led to fatal crash in Yukon: TSB

Full-time school for B.C. students

Full-time school for B.C. students
Parents, students and teachers anxious about the coming school year received an outline Wednesday about British Columbia's plans for a safe return to full-time classes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Full-time school for B.C. students

Man charged after dog dragged by vehicle in B.C

Man charged after dog dragged by vehicle in B.C
An Alberta man has been charged with theft of a vehicle and causing injury to an animal after a woman in southeastern B.C. watched her dog being dragged away by her stolen SUV.

Man charged after dog dragged by vehicle in B.C

COVID-19 outbreak over at St. Paul's baby unit

COVID-19 outbreak over at St. Paul's baby unit
A COVID-19 outbreak at the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver has been declared over.

COVID-19 outbreak over at St. Paul's baby unit