European Union refuses to recognise Belarusian president following dubious vote and police violence

The European Union in a rare show of unity on Thursday said that it won’t recognise Alexander Lukashenko as the legitimate leader of Belarus. Mr Lukashenko's landslide victory in August's rigged vote sparked protests that were reignited on Wednesday after Mr Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus for 26 years, held a clandestine swearing-in ceremony. Mr Lukashenko’s security forces led a ferocious crackdown on opposition protests in the days following the elections. Hundreds of people have reported injuries, torture or mistreatment at the hands of law enforcement. The EU’s diplomatic chief said in a statement on Thursday that the ceremony and “the new mandate claimed by Alexander Lukashenko lack any democractic legitimacy.” “This ‘inauguration’ directly contradicts the will of large parts of the Belarusian population, as expressed in numerous, unprecedented and peaceful protests since the elections, and serves to only further deepen the political crisis in Belarus.” The tough stance on Mr Lukashenko comes just a few days after European foreign ministers failed to agree on potential sanctions on Belarus after Cyprus blocked the plan, citing the lack of joint EU action against Turkey. Thousands of Belarusians took to the streets of capital Minsk and other cities on Wednesday evening to protest against Mr Lukashenko’s rule.

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