Belarus: Lukashenko warns of “war” with neighbors - NATO reacts

The EU does not recognize Lukashenko as the legitimate president for Belarus and praises the opposition for their commitment, there are renewed protests.

Sanctions should follow.

• The

  EU Parmalent

  does

  not

  recognize

  Lukashenko

  as president.

• The EU wants to put its relations with Minsk to the test.

• Punitive measures and

  sanctions are to

  follow - but so far Cyprus has blocked (update from September 18, 10:00 p.m.)

Update from September 19, 4:26 p.m.:

Although the violence against the demonstrating women in the Russian capital Minsk escalated last Saturday, thousands of women again took

to the streets

against

.

Because the traditional red and white flags are often confiscated by security forces, they opened red and white umbrellas.

At their “March of Female Solidarity”, they chanted “

"And"

Transporter

"- an allusion to the transporter with which

taken away

last week

.

The situation is still calm.

Sanctions against 40 Belarusians: Cyprus blocks EU decision

Update from September 18, 10:00 p.m

.: Cyprus has again

 blocked

an EU decision on

against 

.

This means that no action can be taken against 40 people accused by the EU of playing a leading role in electoral fraud and violence against demonstrators.

Cyprus only wants to agree to sanctions if the EU simultaneously

decides on

in the dispute over gas drilling in the eastern Mediterranean.

The EU foreign ministers will meet in Brussels on Monday, and an EU summit will take place at the end of next week.

Lukashenko announces border closings - and warns of "war" with Eastern European NATO states

Update from September 18, 3:47 p.m.:

In addition to

,

has also

rejected

the allegations made by

the region.

He had warned of a "

" with Eastern European

.

"NATO does not pose a threat to

," said an alliance spokesman for the

news

on Friday.

"The presence of

in the eastern part of the alliance is purely defensive, proportionate and geared towards preventing aggression and maintaining peace."

Update from September 18, 3:05 p.m

.: The

 has announced that the

with

and

be closed.

He said that according to

on Thursday at an event.

"We are forced to withdraw troops from the streets, put the

and

close

the

to the west, mainly those to

and

" he is quoted as saying.

In addition, the border with Ukraine should be strengthened.

However,

did not

mention Latvia

when he testified.

According to the

border guards

, the checkpoints at the borders continue to work within their capacities under reinforced border guards.

The head of the

, Rustamas Liubajevas, confirmed to the BNS agency that border traffic to Lithuania is continuing as normal, albeit a little more slowly.

Belarus: EU takes a clear stand against Lukashenko - sanctions should follow 

Brussels - For weeks and months there have been

riots and demonstrations against the leadership of President Alexander

in

.

Now the

clear position on the recent incidents in Belarus.

The body positions itself clearly on the side of the opposition.

The EU foreign affairs representative Josep Borrell makes it clear: Parliament does not recognize the head of state Alexander Lukashenko as the legitimate president of Belarus.

The reason for this is the election on August 9th, in which Lukashenko was declared the winner with around 80 percent of the vote.

According to the EU Parliament, the election was cheated.

Belarus in a state of emergency: The EU takes a clear stand against Lukashenko

As a result of the current

in the country, the

finally reacting

.

The relationship with the leadership in Minsk is to be put to the test.

All contacts should be carefully checked and subsequently restricted or discontinued if necessary.

According to Borrell, punitive measures are currently being

prepared

against people from

environment.

It remains to be seen whether the EU will also introduce sanctions against the head of state personally.

Brutal crackdown by Belarusian authorities continues.

EU reaction on four pillars

📌adopt sanctions

📌call on authorities to end violence and unlawful detentions, and establish inclusive national dialogue

📌strengthen engagement with civil society

📌review EU- # Belarus relations pic.twitter.com/zaZ1DvYfls

- Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) September 15, 2020

On the other hand, they want to show solidarity with civil society by strengthening ties, says Borrell.

The opposition

around Svetlana

, Maria

and Veronika

should be awarded the renowned Sakharov Prize, as suggested by several MPs.

The award honors people or organizations who are committed to upholding human rights and freedom of expression.

Since the election, two of the opposition leaders have fled into exile in Lithuania and Ukraine.

Kolesnikova is on remand in Minsk and faces several years in prison.

Belarus in a state of emergency: Lukashenko cracks down on the opposition and demonstrators

+

Alexander Lukashenko is not seen by the EU Parliament as a legitimate head of state

© Maxim Guchek / dpa / Pool BelTA / AP

Since the August 8 election there have been

massive protests against President

across

.

The president has been in office for 26 years and is now entering his sixth term.

The

used violence

against the demonstrators in the country

.

There have already been several dead and hundreds injured and arrested.

Thousands of workers stopped working to side with the opposition.

Much of the opposition council was either arrested, abducted or had to leave the country.

There is currently no foreseeable end to the uprisings.

List of rubric lists: © - / AP / dpa