Close X
Thursday, November 14, 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

Search continues for father of girls found dead

Search continues for father of girls found dead
The search for the father of two girls whose bodies were found Saturday in a small town southwest of Quebec City has entered its seventh day.

Search continues for father of girls found dead

Ethnocultural crime stats to be collected

Ethnocultural crime stats to be collected
Statistics Canada and the country's police chiefs have agreed to help collect and report data about Indigenous and ethnocultural groups when compiling information on victims and accused people.

Ethnocultural crime stats to be collected

Central bank holds key rate at 0.25%

Central bank holds key rate at 0.25%
The Bank of Canada is holding its key interest rate at 0.25 per cent in response to what it calls the "extremely uncertain" economic outlook from the COVID-19 pandemic, and plans to keep it there until the picture improves.

Central bank holds key rate at 0.25%

Two presumed cases of COVID-19 in Nunavut

Two presumed cases of COVID-19 in Nunavut
Nunavut is reporting two presumptive cases of COVID-19 at an iron mine on the northern tip of Baffin Island. The territory is the only jurisdiction in Canada without a confirmed case of the infection.

Two presumed cases of COVID-19 in Nunavut

Bloc leader Blanchet denies allegations

Bloc leader Blanchet denies allegations
The leader of the Bloc Quebecois is categorically denying allegations that were made against him Tuesday night in an anonymous Facebook post.

Bloc leader Blanchet denies allegations

Vote allows overnight camping in Vancouver parks

Vote allows overnight camping in Vancouver parks
The Vancouver Park Board has passed a motion allowing overnight camping in parks around the city.

Vote allows overnight camping in Vancouver parks