UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Friday he was
"deeply worried"
about the use of force in Belarus against peaceful demonstrators, stressing that the crisis could only be resolved
"by the Belarusian people".
Expressed in a press release, its concern also relates to
"the detention of persons exercising their legitimate democratic rights"
.
Antonio Guterres is also worried about
"information reporting intimidation tactics against opposition figures, the media"
and representatives of civil society, his text said.
Read also: Lukashenko beheads the Belarusian opposition
"The current crisis can only be resolved by the Belarusian people through a broad and inclusive dialogue, which should begin immediately in the interest of stability,"
adds the UN chief, while Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, disputed for more than a month, will be in Russia Monday to see his counterpart Vladimir Putin.
Antonio Guterres
"calls on the authorities to refrain from the use of force"
against the peaceful demonstrators and
"to ensure that investigations are fully carried out into the accusations of torture and ill-treatment inflicted on people in detention"
, finally indicates its press release.
President Alexander Lukashenko is accused of rigging the August 9 presidential election.
A new major demonstration of the Belarusian opposition is expected Sunday in Minsk, the fifth of its kind.
The previous ones gathered at least 100,000 people to demand the departure of the power in place.
