VIDEO: Tikhanovskaya Calls on European Leaders Not to Recognize Belarus Election Results

The main rival of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, addressed the European Council in a video message. The English video was published on the YouTube blog 'Страна для жизни'. Tikhanovskaya urged Europe not to recognize the results of the Belarusian presidential elections.

She stated that the elections held on August 9 were neither transparent nor fair, and their results were falsified. 'People who took to the streets in Belarusian cities to defend their vote have been brutally beaten, detained, and tortured by a regime clinging to power. There are hundreds of wounded, at least 2 fatalities. And all this is happening right now in the heart of Europe. I urge you not to recognize these falsified elections. Lukashenko has lost legitimacy in the eyes of our people and the entire world,' Tikhanovskaya said.

The opposition figure also announced the creation of a National Coordination Council of Belarus, which aims to lead the peaceful transfer of power through dialogue.

'Respected leaders of European states, I urge you to support the awakening of Belarus. I call on all countries to respect the principles of international law, to honor Belarus's sovereignty, and to acknowledge the choice of the Belarusian people,' Tikhanovskaya added.

It is noteworthy that the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and the foreign ministers of the 27 EU countries have declared that they do not recognize the results of the Belarusian elections.